Orchestrating: Gilding the Silk Purse?

[Mark G. Simon]

If not, Which works would you like to see orchestrated? 

My list:.... Charles Ives' Concord Sonata.

Consider it done  (by Henry Brant)

http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2420&State_2874=2&WorkId_2874=29236

[Cato]

Consider it done  (by Henry Brant)

http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2420&State_2874=2&WorkId_2874=29236

Wow!  And it makes sense for Henry Brant to undertake it! 

Too bad no CD's exist yet: a job for...Michael Tilson Thomas?

Thought experiments: for an orchestration of Liszt's Piano Sonata in B minor, would you use a Wagnerian or post-Wagnerian orchestra?  Since it is Liszt, I will not propose a pre-Wagnerian orchestra!

For an orchestration of Schumann's Davidsbündlertänze which Schu-size orchestra would you use: Schumannian or larger?

And speaking of Schumann, how about putting an orchestra with that Concert sans Orchestre aka Third Piano Sonata?

[Cato]

Wow!  And it makes sense for Henry Brant to undertake it! 

Too bad no CD's exist yet: a job for...Michael Tilson Thomas?

Thought experiments: for an orchestration of Liszt's Piano Sonata in B minor, would you use a Wagnerian or post-Wagnerian orchestra?  Since it is Liszt, I will not propose a pre-Wagnerian orchestra!

For an orchestration of Schumann's Davidsbündlertänze which Schu-size orchestra would you use: Schumannian or larger?

And speaking of Schumann, how about putting an orchestra with that Concert sans Orchestre aka Third Piano Sonata?

Not to be forgotten: a Rimskyan orchestration of Busoni's Fantasia Contrappuntistica ?!

[karlhenning]

And speaking of Schumann, how about putting an orchestra with that Concert sans Orchestre aka Third Piano Sonata?

Or (with a nod to A Certain Schumanniac), re-orchestrating the four symphonies? 

[Cato]

Or (with a nod to A Certain Schumanniac), re-orchestrating the four symphonies? 

Aye, that is an old fight!  Going beyond Mahlerian touch-ups to a complete overhaul!?

Are there any other candidates for such an Extreme Make-over?

[greg]

Consider it done  (by Henry Brant)

http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2420&State_2874=2&WorkId_2874=29236

hmm... small orchestra for him. I expected 20 trombones, 14 pianos and 70 violins, half of which play outside of the auditorium, the other half in the audience.

[not edward]

For those who're interested: George Friedrich Haas' Opus 68 - Scriabin's 9th sonata for Large Orchestra:

http://rapidshare.com/files/47731903/Opus_68__after_Scriabin_.mp3.html

[Cato]

For those who're interested: George Friedrich Haas' Opus 68 - Scriabin's 9th sonata for Large Orchestra:

http://rapidshare.com/files/47731903/Opus_68__after_Scriabin_.mp3.html

Many thanks for posting this!

I looked quickly for a CD, but none seems available.  Anyone know of a recording?

[not edward]

Many thanks for posting this!

I looked quickly for a CD, but none seems available.  Anyone know of a recording?

I'm pretty sure it's not yet out on CD--the work dates from 2004. However, one of Haas' other recreations--an orchestral version of Schubert's incomplete D840 sonata--is available (coupled with fragments from the finale of Bruckner's Ninth) here:

http://www.amazon.de/Torso-Peter-Hirsch/dp/B00008CLLY/

[Cato]

Thanks again to Edward for the Haas link!

Quote from: Mark G. Simon on Charles Ives/Henry Brant's Concord Symphony :

Consider it done  (by Henry Brant)

http://www.schirmer.com/default.aspx?TabId=2420&State_2874=2&WorkId_2874=29236

Greg wrote:

hmm... small orchestra for him. I expected 20 trombones, 14 pianos and 70 violins, half of which play outside of the auditorium, the other half in the audience.

Dude!  That's the job for you!   0:)

[greg]

For those who're interested: George Friedrich Haas' Opus 68 - Scriabin's 9th sonata for Large Orchestra:

http://rapidshare.com/files/47731903/Opus_68__after_Scriabin_.mp3.html

pretty cool!
and it was also fun to listen and think "hm, nice touch there..... nah, i wouldn't have done that", etc.

he keeps it big, not surprising for a spectral composer- or maybe he's just trying to imitate Scriabin's style of orchestration, which is also big? For me, though, it would've sounded nicer if during certain moments he'd have reduced it to maybe 1, or just a couple instruments playing. The intimacy of the sonata is lost during those moments and there should be more of a contrast between certain moments and the ending, where of course the whole orchestra should be playing, in a typical grand Scriabin climax

[Guido]

The orchestration of the Concord Sonata has just been released. http://www.amazon.com/Concord-Symphony-Piano-Sonata-Mass/dp/B000X2YYDO/ref=sr_1_1/102-9590326-8018512?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1192926938&sr=8-1

[Scott]

The orchestration of the Concord Sonata has just been released. http://www.amazon.com/Concord-Symphony-Piano-Sonata-Mass/dp/B000X2YYDO/ref=sr_1_1/102-9590326-8018512?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1192926938&sr=8-1

Good Lord, what a find! Thank you thank you. I've downloaded it -- my first time to do this -- and it was easy as pie. And I'm listening to Emerson as I write this.

[Brian]

I find, when imagining music in my head on occasion, that the first movement of the Eroica Symphony makes a smashing string quintet (two violas).

EDIT: Wow, didn't realize the original discussion was so old!

[Scott]

Wasn't it Weingartner who made a mess of the Hammerklavier?

Yes, it was Weingartner, whose credentials as a Beethovenian are unimpeachable -- his recording of the Eroica is still my favorite -- but that orchestration of the Hammerklavier is, erm, awful.

[Guido]

You are welcome!

When I have enough money, I will download it immediately - A sad state of affairs when you can't afford $5 for a CD!

[greg]

The orchestration of the Concord Sonata has just been released. http://www.amazon.com/Concord-Symphony-Piano-Sonata-Mass/dp/B000X2YYDO/ref=sr_1_1/102-9590326-8018512?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1192926938&sr=8-1

wow, that's something
now there just has to be a flute and violin that imitate the original version