Hi folks, how are you? I am reading the course of scoreclub: Line orchestration and I see it this concept. 3d writing? What is?
Stage placement ... wouldn't really concern orchestration IMO.
Well, 3D is a term I use for myself and my students that represents a way of thinking about orchestration and how things fit together. Think of it as depth, but 3D scoring is more catchy.
Alain
You think orchestral seating is superfluous to orchestration? lol
Okay, maybe "wouldn't really concern" wasn't the best choice of words but IMO orchestral seating or stage placement is not orchestration decision and therefore the topic wouldn't be a part of an orchestration course.
You think orchestral seating is superfluous to orchestration? lol
3D orchestration is a bit of a sales gimmick. I'm assuming there is nothing unique about it. The basic principles of orchestration haven't changed. The instruments and the principles of orchestral layout are the same as they have been for a long time.
Orchestral seating isn't a huge consideration in orchestration for a full orchestra because seating is fairly standardized for acoustical and practical purposes. The only major exceptions off the top of my head are
Seating considerations are fairly minor issues, minus the exceptions above. In chamber groups they are often decided by or in conjunction with the ensemble rather than during the orchestration process.
- decisions how to split strings like the violins (Even this may not always be adhered in every recording/performance situation. In classical orchestras it's usually at the whim of the conductor.)
- creating special effects like having offstage musicians
- practical concerns about lines of sight for special situations like soloists, doubling on multiple instruments (e.g. percussionists), and chamber music considerations.
I think a lot of the discussion around orchestral seating on this board comes from the virtual world because nothing is fixed. When writing purely for live ensembles, it's an issue which most composers don't have to think about. With live ensembles, you basically know what you're going to get. Alterations to that seating have minor effects and are often detrimental if not done carefully.
And here I was thinking that maybe it had to do with hiding trombone players behind audience members... drats :( Sneaky trombones.Hi,
that term was in my table of content I posted from a screen shot taken of my Word work document/course outline.
It is not a "sales gimmick" (I understand why you'd say that though). It is just a term I use for a pedagogical purpose intended to represent what the masters did.
It simply refers to depth through the manipulation of musical parameters, certainly NOT some sort of "new" musical system!
Kindest regards,
Alain
And here I was thinking that maybe it had to do with hiding trombone players behind audience members... drats :( Sneaky trombones.
Alain is a rare and gifted composer with extensive live orchestra experience. His only motivation is to help others.
Trombones never hide!
Oh wow... my sincere thanks for this.
Alain