Updated 10 Mar 2020
Orchestral Study #4 (allegro), updated audio and original audio
(I have not finished these in a month as per plan.)
This study had considerably more variety in both horizontal lines and in instrument combinations. This I think was my first success with tone color. With that increased complexity in timbre, the mechanical results of the audio output from Dorico presents increased interest but also certain added issues with getting the balance correct. Separation of voices can sometimes come out clearly (as with theme C in woodwinds starting at m. 85) and sometimes a little muddy (in many places with theme A) but still more satisfying than the original audio.
One factor in the “spareness” of sound is the fact that I used single woodwinds (instead of by two, threes, or fours) and very limited brass (here 2 horns, in other pieces at the most 2-1-1 instead of 4-2-3 or similar). I was writing more for MIDI orchestra than orchestra orchestra, and the poor audio bulked up the sound. I more and more want to get NotePerformer to achieve better sound but am restricting myself until I get comfortable with the tools at hand.
I’ve started thinking about new works. I feel less compelled towards a full-scale piece and instead write a shorter, intermediate work in a more modern style (again obsessed with New Complexity, but know I could never get that far). Initial thoughts are a set of three short pieces to get more experimental and to get comfortable writing in Dorico.