An Orchestration for Wind Band of Peter Klatzow’s From the Poets: Exploring a systematic approach to orchestration.

Date
2015-03
Authors
Feder, Arthur John
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
The wind band is a far underused composition medium in South Africa. Partially, this is due to the stereotypical view towards the ensemble and unfamiliarity with dealing with the heterogeneous timbral pallet. The author aimed to demonstrate the ensemble’s capabilities through a systematic orchestration process. The result of this dissertation is an orchestration of a large-scale work, From the Poets, for wind band. This creative research resulted in a systematic critical investigation of instrumental idiosyncrasies, balance, conventions of notation and timbre combinations found in the wind band. Furthermore, the author scrutinised the benefits and shortcomings of the aforementioned systematic process. Concluding that, through a methodical process, an orchestrator achieves a thorough understanding of the original text and can thus translate without fear of making unfavourable musical decisions. However, as this was a two-year process, the method might not work in the time constraints presented in real world situations, such as the music industry for instance. The author provides possible adaptations to the method in order to cope with the above-mentioned time constraints.
Die blaasorkes is ʼn vêr-onderbenutte medium vir komposisie in Suid-Afrika, deels as gevolg van die stereotipiese siening oor die ensemble en 'n gebrekkige kennis in die hantering van die orkes se heterogene toonkleur palet. Die skrywer het hom beywer om die ensemble se vermoëns te demonstreer deur middel van 'n stelselmatige orkestrasieproses. Die resultaat van hierdie skripsie is 'n orkestrasie van 'n grootskaalse werk, From the Poets, vir blaasorkes. Hierdie kreatiewe navorsing het gelei tot 'n sistematiese kritiese ondersoek met betrekking tot instrumentale eienaardighede, balans, konvensies van notasie en toonkleur kombinasies wat ʼn blaasorkes bied. Verder het die skrywer die voordele en tekortkominge van die bogenoemde proses ondersoek. Die gevolgtrekking is dat, by wyse van, 'n metodiese proses, 'n orkestrator 'n deeglike begrip van die oorspronklike teks kan bereik en dus die materiaal vertaal sonder vrees om ongunstige musikale besluite te maak. Aangesien die navorsing 'n tweejaarlange proses behels het, glo die skrywer dat hierdie metode moontlik ontoereikend mag wees gegewe die tydsbeperkinge wat dikwels deur die musiekindustrie opgelê word. Derhalwe bied die skrywer ook moontlike aanpassings tot sy metode om die bogenoemde tydsbeperkings te akkommodeer.
Description
Thesis (MMus) -- Stellenbosch University, 2010.
Keywords
Instrumentation and orchestration (Band), Klatzow, Peter. From the Poets
Citation