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I have been planning to write a big orchestral work, now while I have plenty of ideas the idea of sitting down and starting it is somewhat scary! It is much easier to write pieces that have some chance of performance, say piano pieces, chamber music or songs. But I would be interested in peoples views on writing a large piece for orchestra. I am planning triple woodwind, full brass, percussion, keyboards and strings, the woodwind is the group I find the hardest to write for.
I have tried 4 very short almost haiku like pieces for orchestra as a start point....
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write a keyboard sketch first. its what i did for my first orchestra piece. a 14 minute work that needed alot of planning. majority of the time was actually spent orchestrating. by writing the sketch you figure out what you want first and then it flows after that. orchestration is very tedious.
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I agree completely, orchestration can be very tedious. You mentioned you have trouble with the woodwinds. Anything I could tell you would be better said by Rimsky-Korsakov himself: http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=77
Also, I'd warn that if you are using keyboards, be very conscious of balance.
Good luck.
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I write mainly for full orchestra and have written three symphonies to date, along with a number of other smaller orchestral works. I write everything straight into full score. My advice is to keep it simple to begin with; start with an idea and see where it leads; unless you really cannot wrote without piano assistance I would suggest don't use one! It is far better to conceive an idea with a particular instrument or instruments in mind, making the effort to hear it in your head. This way the instrument's own character and colour will determine where you go. Concerning woodwind writing, or any other for that matter, listen to solo works and hear for yourself how different registers and timbres sound. Clarinet for instance, changes character completely in the lower register (warm and vibrant) as compared to the upper which can be shrill and piercing in forte writing. I never write first and then score, at least not any more!. As a student I used to do that but soon realised how much I was restricting myself. Treat the score page as an artist would a blank canvas: Sketch-in your instrumental outlines where you think you want them to go and then look at adding background and colour. Finally, remember less is more so don't overscore and don't be afraid to use small groups and even an unaccompanied instrument at times within the work as a whole. Hope this helps.
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ctr100
Team Gaughan
aptmusic9