It’s been a while since I last wrote here.  As I have finished up all the sections of the winds in the band I don’t have as much to post.  Yes, I do plan on getting to percussion, miscellaneous instruments, and technical aspects in the future as well.

What I have been working on is finally sitting down and beginning the work on a symphony I’ve been planning for ages.  I’ve had ideas for this work dating back about 20 years.  A lot of the ideas that I’ve written about on this blog are going to be incorporated into my new symphony – Alfheim.

I’ve always had a penchant for the large, and this will be no exception.  I fully intend, when complete, that it will be the largest composition ever written for band.  Will it ever be performed?  I seriously doubt it.  Time will tell.

As of right now, this is the ensemble that I am using:

8 Flutes

1. Piccolo and C Flute
2. Piccolo and C Flute
3. Piccolo and C Flute
4. Piccolo, C Flute, Baritone Flute
5. G Treble Flute, C Flute, Alto Flute
6. C Flute, Alto Flute
7. C Flute, Tenor Flute
8. C Flute, Bass Flute

4 Recorders (sizes to be determined later – Sopranino through Great Bass)

8 Oboes

1. Oboe
2. Oboe
3. Oboe and Baritone Oboe (or Lupophone)
4. Oboe and Bass Oboe
5. Mezzo-Soprano Oboe
6. Alto Oboe
7. Alto Oboe
8. Tenor Oboe

16 Clarinets

• 2 E-flat Clarinets
• 2 C Clarinets
• 4 B-Flat Clarinets (1 = A-flat Clarinet)
• 2 F Alto Clarinets
• 2 Bass Clarinets
• Contra-Alto Clarinet
• Contrabass Clarinet

8 Saxophones

1. Sopranino Saxophone, Alto Saxophone
2. B-flat Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone
3. Alto Saxophone, Piccolo Saxophone
4. Alto Saxophone, C Tenor Saxophone
5. B-flat Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
6. Baritone Saxophone
7. Bass Saxophone
8. Contrabass Saxophone

8 Bassoons

1. Alto Bassoon and Bassoon
2. Tenor Bassoon and Bassoon
3. Bassoon
4. Bassoon
5. Bassoon
6. Semi-Contrabassoon and Bassoon
7. Contrabassoon
8. Contrabassoon

10 Horns

• Horns 7 and 8 = B-flat Tenor Wagner Tuben
• Horns 9 and 10 = F Bass Wagner Tuben

8 Cornets

• 1 E-flat Soprano Cornet
• 3 B-flat Cornets
• 2 Alto Horns
• 2 Baritone Horns

8 Trumpets

1. B-flat Piccolo and C Trumpets
2. B-flat Piccolo and C Trumpets
3. E-flat and C Trumpets
4. C and B-flat Trumpets
5. C, B-flat, and F Alto Trumpets
6. Bass Trumpet
7. F Cimbasso
8. C Cimbasso

8 Trombones

• 1 Alto Trombone
• 4 Tenor Trombones
• 2 Bass Trombones
• 1 Contrabass Trombone

12 Tubas

• 4 Flügelhorns
• 2 F Alto Flügelhorns (Mellophoniums)
• 2 Tenor Tubas
• 2 Bass Tubas
• 2 Contrabass Tubas

Various Percussion to be determined as composition goes on.

2 Harps

Celesta/Harpsichord

Piano

Organ

2 Mandolins

2 Guitars (acoustic and electric)

1 Baritone Guitar (acoustic and electric)

1 Bass Guitar (acoustic and electric)

8 Basses

 

With one on a part, this will land the total of about 120-130 players.  The equivalent of a work like The Rite of Spring or a large work by Mahler.  By no means impossible, but very large.

You may note my curious labeling of some of the instruments.  As families of instruments grow, I find it best to use names that reflect what the instruments truly are (Baritone Flute instead of Contra-Alto Flute, Mezzo-Soprano Oboe instead of Oboe d’Amore, etc.).

You will also note my inclusion of 3 instruments that do not currently exist: Baritone Oboe (a.k.a. Bass Oboe in F), Bass Oboe (a.k.a. Contrabass Oboe), and Semi-Contrabassoon.  Music must exist before these instruments can come into being.  Why not start now?