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
- Piccolo and C Flute
- Piccolo and C Flute
- Piccolo and C Flute
- Piccolo, C Flute, Baritone Flute
- G Treble Flute, C Flute, Alto Flute
- C Flute, Alto Flute
- C Flute, Tenor Flute
- C Flute, Bass Flute
4 Recorders (sizes to be determined later – Sopranino through Great Bass)
8 Oboes
- Oboe
- Oboe
- Oboe and Baritone Oboe (or Lupophone)
- Oboe and Bass Oboe
- Mezzo-Soprano Oboe
- Alto Oboe
- Alto Oboe
- 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
- Sopranino Saxophone, Alto Saxophone
- B-flat Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone
- Alto Saxophone, Piccolo Saxophone
- Alto Saxophone, C Tenor Saxophone
- B-flat Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
- Baritone Saxophone
- Bass Saxophone
- Contrabass Saxophone
8 Bassoons
- Alto Bassoon and Bassoon
- Tenor Bassoon and Bassoon
- Bassoon
- Bassoon
- Bassoon
- Semi-Contrabassoon and Bassoon
- Contrabassoon
- 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
- B-flat Piccolo and C Trumpets
- B-flat Piccolo and C Trumpets
- E-flat and C Trumpets
- C and B-flat Trumpets
- C, B-flat, and F Alto Trumpets
- Bass Trumpet
- F Cimbasso
- 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?
