Brian Nowak
Active Member
I think they want us to consider these new instruments, rather than combos. Obviously, we'll need to hear them first to be sold on that, since the articulation lists PDF can't really convey a new sound.
Ironically, they stopped giving the ensembles goofy names like they did in Arks 1 & 2 (e.g. PFARRACKER STRINGS) but it would make the most sense to use those invented names for blends if they really want them to come across as new instruments. Rather than a cocktail of, say, Contrabassoon + Euphonium + Tuba, call it OZYMANDIAS LOWS or somesuch.
Well, the problem with putting contrasting pairs of instruments together, beyond simply forcing me into instrumentation options, is that it also makes it very difficult to stem projects correctly.
I am mostly writing library music, where these things can become very problematic if a potential client wants just the brass or woodwinds...