As someone not terribly fond of chamber or solo music, I do take joy in listening to them orchestrated (and controversially, bettered ;) ). Therefore I've decided to make a list of complete pieces that have been orchestrated.
My criteria for inclusion:
- No impartial orchestrations like Busoni's Berceuse élégiaque or Respighi's Cinq études-tableaux.
- No collection of sniglets and little pieces like Glazunov's Les Sylphides or Respighi's La Boutique fantasque.
- Instrumental pieces only. I am not interested in vocal music and that's just a personal preference.
- No "freely recomposed" music like Schoenberg's Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra or Berio's Rendering.
- I am not going to try to keep track of every arranger for every work because that would frankly stop being fun and become a chore (such as for Mussorgsky's Pictures of an Exhibition or for Bach's various doo-dads.)
- No transcriptions by the composers themselves as they tend to be well-known already.
- No MIDI performances. Only real orchestral performances.
In summary: I am looking for distinct orchestration of complete pieces only.
__________________________
The List: https://bit.ly/orchestrations
Notes:
1. I've decided to migrate to Notion because updating the list on here is significantly more inefficient than Notion. Another plus of using Notion is having the AI sort list alphabetically for me.
2. Those of you who wish to include things I exclude can create a Notion account and duplicate the list to make your own changes to it.
Barber's Adagio
The Stokowski arrangements of some of Bach's works.
Quote from: DavidW on October 17, 2023, 09:03:17 AMBarber's Adagio
The Stokowski arrangements of some of Bach's works.
Posted updated. I forgot to add that I am sticking to complete works. I don't care for Bach but I have added a line. There are too many little keyboard pieces and things with Bach to try to list them all.
Weinberg Piano Quintet
String Quartet 2 > Chamber Symphony 1
String Quartet 3 > Chamber Symphony 2
String Quartet 5 > Chamber Symphony 3
Bartok Sonata for 2 pianos and Percussion, there is also a version with orchestra:
In 1940, at the suggestion of his publisher and agent, Heinsheimer, Bartók orchestrated the sonata as Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion and Orchestra. The parts for the four soloists were essentially unchanged. (Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonata_for_Two_Pianos_and_Percussion))
Done. Thanks.
I usually don't like these things. But there is e.g.
Beethoven, Sonata op.106 (by none less than Weingartner and AFAIK the only recording is still his from the 1930s!)
Schubert: Grand Duo D 812
A bunch of Russian composers made orchestral arrangements of Chopin pieces and also Schumann piano pieces for some ballet (I encountered this on the radio and found it abhorrent, so forgot details)
Berio orchestrated one of Brahms clarinet sonatas, made a work ("Rendering") with fragments of Schubert's 10th and orchestrated a dozen or so of early Mahler songs (the latter are very good, don't know the others).
Orchestrating lieder that were originally only with piano was quite frequently done in the late 19th and early 20th century. Abbado conducted a selection of Schubert song orchestrations for DG.
Someone (a Swede? or was it recorded by a Swedish orchestra) also orchestrated Brahms' B major trio op.8, and, I think, Eugene Goosens did the Handel variations
The Berg piano sonata has been orchestrated (and for chamber ensemble),
Quote from: Jo498 on October 17, 2023, 10:39:42 AMI usually don't like these things. But there is e.g.
A bunch of Russian composers made orchestral arrangements of Chopin pieces and also Schumann piano pieces for some ballet (I encountered this on the radio and found it abhorrent, so forgot details)
Berio orchestrated one of Brahms clarinet sonatas, made a work ("Rendering") with fragments of Schubert's 10th and orchestrated a dozen or so of early Mahler songs (the latter are very good, don't know the others).
Orchestrating lieder that were originally only with piano was quite frequently done in the late 19th and early 20th century. Abbado conducted a selection of Schubert song orchestrations for DG.
Someone (a Swede? or was it recorded by a Swedish orchestra) also orchestrated Brahms' B major trio op.8, and, I think, Eugene Goosens did the Handel variations
The Berg piano sonata has been orchestrated (and for chamber ensemble),
I was looking for plain orchestrations so I am not including things like medleys (Les Sylphides) or "freely composed" pieces like Schoenberg's Concerto for String Quartet or Berio's Rendering.
Arnold Schoenberg arranged in 1929 his
2nd String Quartet (the one with a solo soprano part, from 1907-08) for string orchestra.
And
Alban Berg arranged for string orchestra three movements of his
Lyric Suite (originally for string quartet).
Nielsen's Commotio (organ) has been orchestrated by Bo Holten. It's perhaps my all-time favourite Nielsen, so I have no intention of listing to this travesty - especially as Mr Holten writes that the organ original is over-long, and that his effort might be called Nielsen's Symphony no.7.
I've often wondered - perhaps some of the composers on the forum can enlighten me - what is actually involved in arranging a string quartet for string orchestra. Don't you just print 10 copies of each part?
And turning the subject of the thread on its head - didn't Webern down-size Schoenberg's first Chamber Symphony for piano trio?
Quote from: DaveF on October 17, 2023, 12:56:08 PMI've often wondered - perhaps some of the composers on the forum can enlighten me - what is actually involved in arranging a string quartet for string orchestra. Don't you just print 10 copies of each part?
You also want to take thought for just what the double-basses double, and why.
Quote from: DaveF on October 17, 2023, 12:56:08 PMAnd turning the subject of the thread on its head - didn't Webern down-size Schoenberg's first Chamber Symphony for piano trio?
You're certainly right that he did arrange it, though I don't recall for just what ensemble, and you may well be right that it was piano trio.
Quote from: DaveF on October 17, 2023, 12:56:08 PMAnd turning the subject of the thread on its head - didn't Webern down-size Schoenberg's first Chamber Symphony for piano trio?
In spirit of that there is a piano trio transcription of Beethoven's 2nd symphony that I really like.
Quote from: lordlance on October 17, 2023, 09:09:00 AMThere are too many little keyboard pieces and things with Bach to try to list them all.
I think the big one is the Art of Fugue which has been played by ensembles both large and small.
Quote from: ritter on October 17, 2023, 12:48:27 PMArnold Schoenberg arranged in 1929 his 2nd String Quartet (the one with a solo soprano part, from 1907-08) for string orchestra.
And Alban Berg arranged for string orchestra three movements of his Lyric Suite (originally for string quartet).
Wow, really?! I didn't know about that, I must absolutely have a listen to that arrangement, thanks for posting!
Also,
Ferrucio Busoni arranged for orchestra (and expanded), as
Berceuse élégiaque, the seventh of his
Élégies for piano. A little jewel (the world première of which I understand was the last music conducted by
Gustav Mahler).
Ravel's orchestration of his Piano Trio and Introduction et Allegro for flute, clarinet, harp and string orchestra by Yan Pascal Tortelier and his String Quartet arranged for string orchestra by Barshai:
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiOTUwNjk1MS4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE2ODc5NDkzNjF9)(https://i.discogs.com/EQXpYVf0-VwwYPltiqhTy12J7FTUtyOoDz_tV0EIoik/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:523/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE0NTU4/NTM0LTE1NzcwNDAw/MTEtNjA0My5qcGVn.jpeg)
And how could I leave out
Ravel's orchestration of four movements of his
Le Tombeau de Couperin (originally for solo piano)? One of the composer's greatest achievements IMHO.
In a similar vein,
Florent Schmitt arranged for piano and orchestra his
J'entends dans le lointain... (the first piece of his
Ombres for solo piano).
Arrangements for string orchestra from Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14, Debussy's String Quartet and Korngold's String Sextet on this disc:
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODYwNDM4Mi4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE1NTA2MDg3NDR9)
A master orchestrator was Respighi. By him we have orchestrations from Rachmaninov's Five Études-tableaux, Ancient Airs and Dances Suites and Gli uccelli (from Baroque music), La Boutique fantasque (from Rossini's piano pieces), Vetrate di Chiesa (orchestration from Tre preludi sopra melodie gregoriane + San Gregorio Magno), among others.
Quote from: DaveF on October 17, 2023, 12:56:08 PMNielsen's Commotio (organ) has been orchestrated by Bo Holten. It's perhaps my all-time favourite Nielsen, so I have no intention of listing to this travesty - especially as Mr Holten writes that the organ original is over-long, and that his effort might be called Nielsen's Symphony no.7.
I have also avoided Holten's orchestration for the same reason.
Mussorgsky -
Pictures at an Exhibition (Ravel)
I was reminded of this by the post by
@ritter.
Quote from: premont on October 17, 2023, 04:22:05 PMI have also avoided Holten's orchestration for the same reason.
Interesting. I believe a friend gave me this long ago. I should check and listen ....
Albeniz's 'Iberia' was partially orchestrated by Enrique Fernandez Arbos, who did five selections. Carlos Surinach orchestrated the remaining seven selections.
I've played around with orchestrating some piano pieces myself - I find it absolutely fascinating! ;D
Quote from: San Antone on October 17, 2023, 04:46:10 PMMussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition (Ravel)
And Stokowski, and Wood, and Breiner, and Ashkenazy, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer...
Lots of Debussy's piano music have been orchestrated by different people, IIRC the Naxos Debussy series has all of them.
A few rarities:
many years ago I heard on RTBF an orchestration of Francks Chorals by -possibly - a Spanish composer.
I'll contact Musiq3.
(https://i.discogs.com/K60CGmU5ST4IB9QPiw2QIGLaHoxA7fgLjxh2JgIBi0Y/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:593/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE0MDc0/NTc2LTE1NjczNTg2/MTctNzI1OC5qcGVn.jpeg)
https://youtu.be/9oxqFp247vk?si=gSzMOQTx1yt5RWLp
http://www.lucbrewaeys.com/lucbrewaeys_wp/works/preludes-book-ii-by-claude-debussy-recomposed-for-orchestra/
More arrangements/orchestrations by Geert van Keulen. He also orchestrated songs by Mussorgsky
https://www.muziekweb.nl/Link/DAX3205/De-kinderkamer
I'm a bit disappointed to learn that the Weinberg Chamber Symphonies are merely arrangements rather than original works. Also what is the orchestrated Piano Quintet named as?
Debussy orchestrated the third and first Gymnopédies by Erik Satie.
Quote from: Karl Henning on October 17, 2023, 01:11:40 PMYou're certainly right that he did arrange it, though I don't recall for just what ensemble, and you may well be right that it was piano trio.
Bit of research reveals that it's for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano - i.e. the
Pierrot Lunaire ensemble. I even have an old disc coupling the two works, played by the Fires of London (originally the Pierrot Players), so should have known.
Wow, the Otterloo D 940 is better than the Joachim Grand Duo (there are better orchestrations of the Grand Duo but Joachim's the only frequently recorded), it almost makes me change my attitude towards such orchestrations(although I love the Schönberg Bach and Brahms also as guilty pleasures).
Quote from: DaveF on October 18, 2023, 06:11:00 AMBit of research reveals that it's for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano - i.e. the Pierrot Lunaire ensemble. I even have an old disc coupling the two works, played by the Fires of London (originally the Pierrot Players), so should have known.
This was probably what the Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen could muster, for which they also did Strauss waltzes, Schönberg began LvdE (later completed by Rainer Riehn) and some of Schönberg's students did at least one Bruckner symphony and Mahler's 4th. All these are usually string quartet, piano and a few woodwinds (or in the waltzes harmonium).
One of my favorite transcriptions:
MAHLER - Symphony No. 4 - Chamber Version
Quote from: pjme on October 18, 2023, 02:32:37 AMA few rarities:
many years ago I heard on RTBF an orchestration of Francks Chorals by -possibly - a Spanish composer.
I'll contact Musiq3.
(https://i.discogs.com/K60CGmU5ST4IB9QPiw2QIGLaHoxA7fgLjxh2JgIBi0Y/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:593/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE0MDc0/NTc2LTE1NjczNTg2/MTctNzI1OC5qcGVn.jpeg)
https://youtu.be/9oxqFp247vk?si=gSzMOQTx1yt5RWLp
http://www.lucbrewaeys.com/lucbrewaeys_wp/works/preludes-book-ii-by-claude-debussy-recomposed-for-orchestra/
Pierné orchestrated Franck's Prelude, Choral & Fugue......
Thanks to everyone for their inputs. List has been updated. I've also added *my* criteria for inclusion. You can disagree but this is what I am looking for specifically.
1988! The Antwerp orchestra is now
https://www.antwerpsymphonyorchestra.be/
Jaap van Zweden is back there with Mahler 6.....
Monteux recorded this work in 1944 and the Liège PhO did it ca 2009 with Pierre Bleuse.
Happy to announce a major improvement on the list. I've added links to performances for all pieces (YouTube when possible; Spotify otherwise) and now differentiate if there are different orchestrations (piano vs string orchestra vs large orchestra)
Some Rachmaninov:
His Prelude in C-sharp minor exists in at least two orchestral versions. First by Leopold Stokowski:
and another by Sir Henry Wood:
The Prelude in G minor from op. 23 was orchestrated by Lucien Cailliet:
There are a few other Rachmaninov preludes that have been orchestrated (like op. 23 no. 3 and op. 32 no. 3) also available on YouTube.
Then there are selections from his Etudes Tableaux in gorgeous orchestrations by Ottorino Respighi:
Quote from: classicalgeek on October 19, 2023, 10:32:02 AMThen there are selections from his Etudes Tableaux in gorgeous orchestrations by Ottorino Respighi:
Thanks for posting, I can't remember having heard those before. As you say, gorgeous, and at times eye-opening orchestrations.
Quote from: Iota on October 19, 2023, 11:43:18 AMThanks for posting, I can't remember having heard those before. As you say, gorgeous, and at times eye-opening orchestrations.
Rachmaninoff was asked to do them himself but didn't want to so he shovelled the job off onto Respighi.
and
Claude Debussy:
Six épigraphes antiques [orchestration par Ernest Ansermet
6 Épigraphes antiques (1914-15) Orchestrated (1977) by Rudolf Escher (1912-1980)
many versions on YT.
Quote from: Roasted Swan on October 20, 2023, 12:24:22 AMRachmaninoff was asked to do them himself but didn't want to so he shovelled the job off onto Respighi.
Thanks, funnily enough that was the one thing I did remember about them, just not the actual arrangements .. ::) But very glad to finally get to hear them as they're really top drawer.
Quote from: pjme on October 24, 2023, 05:06:16 AM
https://yanmaresz.com/
Added. Thank you. Greatly appreciated.
Very interesting that a Bartok SQ got arranged (I say that deliberately because it is for a string orchestra and not a full symphony orchestra):
That is an absolutely brilliant orchestration
@lordlance thanks for sharing!
To the point where if someone says that they are struggling with Bartok's SQs I might point at this recording, it might open the doors for them.
Percy Grainger's radical orchestrations of Debussy's Pagodas and Ravel's Vallee des cloches are standout examples of the species. In his trademark fashion he reimagines the orchestra, piling it high with stacks of metallophones. Brilliant!
There's also this one of Bruyeres
[Edit - sorry, I see that the Pagodes one has already been posted, together with Caplet's orchestration]
Has no one mentioned Schoenberg's orchestration of the Brahms 1st Piano Quartet?
Rather randomly I found an orchestration of Braunfels' String Quintet: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9sl8XIO3CTfSf_eLHpgNRWFkMN5XUbdR