Writing For Woodwinds

1
Writing For Woodwinds

• Things to Think About

2
Woodwinds

• Think about the numbers you are writing for -
  what is the general make-up of a school band?
• ALWAYS- think about the sound you would like to
  produce - All voices equal? Choir vs. Choir, lead
  voice over back ups? Think about dynamic contour
  and instrument color.

3
Woodwinds

• Execution
• Can they play effectively at your tempo?
• Can they play effectively at your dynamic?
• Can they play the full line as marked? How does
  AIR factor in?
• Can they execute the articulations (think about
  instrument characteristics)

4
Voicing

• Alto Clarinet? Double either 3rd clarinet or Bass
  Depending on Voice strength
• Clarinet Parts are usually split 3 ways
• Saxophones are Flexible - either used as a Choir,
  as a sonority strengthener, as rhythmic
  background, Soloists, inner harmony

5
Voicing

• Melody may be doubled in octaves
• Avoid doubling the bass line above its original
  Pitch
• Exception - more than an octave between the bass
  line and the next highest voice

6
Voicing

• Think about using the double reed quartet 2
  oboes, 2 bassoons
• May be used as a quartet in light passages - Its
  all about the color you want.
• Lighter passages - Flute can carry the melody in
  the upper register
• Think if your tutti passages are balanced, top
  heavy, or bottom heavy

7
Voicing

• Put largest Vertical intervals the lower the
  octave - Think Harmonic Series and Clarity
• Close vertical space in the lower octave creates
  a muddy sound
• Space voices evenly in the upper register and
  avoid large gaps.
• Exception - octave between two top melodic voices
• Chords should be voiced as completely as possible
  in each section

8
Voice Leading/Revoicing

• Sometimes voice parts need to be shifted around
  due to range considerations. Ex. - a tenor/bass
  combination
• Avoid awkward skips ( see ex no. 2 page 40)
• Watch for Excessive Doubling of 3rds
• Think about how you want to split voices or
  Condense. 5 parts for 4 players? 7 parts for 12
  players?

9
Now Lets Look at Some Scores

• Irish Tune
• Dvorak Serenade
• Strauss - Suite in B flat
• Beethoven - Octet
• Jacob - Old Wine In New Bottles

10
Woodwind Project

• Recording - March 1st, March 3rd
• Instrumentation - 2 Flute, 2 Oboe, 2 B flat
  Clarinet, 1Bass Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 alto sax,
  1 tenor sax, 1 bari sax - Recruit PLAYERS!
• Be inventive!! Intros, Endings, Harmony, Style?
• Lab Day Thursday
• Woodwind Quiz - Feb 22nd
• No Class on the 24th