Posted by David Paterson on March 08, 19104 at 19:34:59:
Fine line between Very Difficult & Impossible. HELP!
My first posting. I am trying, for the very first time, to arrange a solo piano piece - composed by a close friend of mine - for symphony orchestra. I only play piano so am grossly weak in background knowledge. I started four days ago and am halfway through the first draft.
Because the original piano piece is very difficult, I'm aware of constantly brushing up against and crossing the fine line between "very difficult" and "impossible".
Is there anyone out there who plays an orchestral instrument (or two) who can help me decide when I've overstepped the line? I don't have anyone here I can ask. I can post images of the toughest bits to anyone who is interested.
So far, I'm running close to "impossible" with the following instruments:
B'soon - a long quaver run full of jumps (great fun but far from easy) & a single semiquaver triplet arpeggio.
Cello - a run full of quaver jumps up and down an octave (was a vamp on piano).
Viola - playing two notes at once (when I run out of stringed instruments).
Double B - playing two notes at once, and the occasional fast jump.
I'm soon going to run close to "impossible" with the following:
Flute - fast mordents & turns.
Clarinet - an extended run (sounds like rippling water) in triplet semiquavers.
On the last of these I'm convinced that it IS impossible for any soloist. The music consists of fast arpeggios up and down an octave, with each octave starting on a different note. I figure that, whereas it is impossible for a soloist, it may be possible for 4 clarinets, one each for the soprano, alto, tenor & baritone notes.
Timing is 100 beats per minute for all but the clarinet part above, which is 80 beats per minute.
I'm beginning to think I should rename the piece "beautiful but deadly". Are the players going to drop dead from lack of breath?