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Re: Easy-ish pieces for wood/string ensembles?

Author: Dutchy
Date: 2008-06-19 14:15

Speaking as an amateur mediocre player myself, the Mozart symphonies I've encountered tend to come across to the mediocre player as "relentless, fast, never gives up". Band and orchestra music that's written specifically for intermediate players tends to have lovely long 2, 4, and 8-bar rest periods. Even a single measure's rest can make a difference to a developing embouchure.

But Mozart symphonies tend not to have lovely long rest periods--it always strikes me as take-no-prisoners music, a headlong gallop, "if I can just get through this part, it'll be almost over" music. It's pretty, yes, but to play, it can sometimes be not-fun. Especially if you're a beginning string player.

I'd also think about the capabilities of your wind players if you're going to transpose parts--think in terms of rest periods, not in terms of "will this fit the instruments' range".

Maybe just play an excerpt, a page or two?

Also, who's going to write out the horn parts for the clarinet and/or oboe? You're making a lot of work for yourself there, I'm thinkin. As someone who seems to go through life volunteering for projects which I regret when I get halfway through, I speak from experience. [grin]