Beethoven Patreon Evaluation 30. Andrew Bromage

[@andrewbromage7365]

Thank you so much! A little bit of history: It started off with the intention of being a concerto grosso, because part of the brief was that "period" instrumentation was OK, and I thought it would be funny to go for the full anachronism. But because the ritornello really demanded being passed around, I abandoned that quickly in favour of using one of my favourite pieces as a model for orchestration: the Schubert octet (D803). But there wasn't enough wind high end, so the contrabass got swapped for a flute, and that's how we ended up here. I bring this up just to mention how much thought went into the instrumentation: not as much as you might think. I didn't consider an oboe, but I suspect that might have been a better choice. The art of the mock-up is something I've never really had to do outside of these challenges, and I'm definitely not very good at it. As I said, it's been a while, and I don't fully remember, but I think this was the reason for the flute octave doubling in the first phrase: it just didn't sound like a convincing opening to me. I think Thomas is right, it was just that the first violin was cranked too high, and that would have fixed it. I'm not entirely sure how I submitted an untransposed score. I actually did write the clarinet part transposed (though not the horn part, because I'm not fully comfortable with that yet), and untransposed it just to check everything. This was just a mistake. The f in the clarinet is indeed a copy and paste error, which I discovered a day after the final deadline. The giveaway is the final quaver which Thomas didn't catch!

[@enriquesanchez2001]

👍

[@enriquesanchez2001]

ANDREW BROMAGE! Wonderful entry! Your chamber arrangement is so creative! ♥ Good job!

[@enriquesanchez2001]

OMG - THOMAS GOSS! This means you ARE BETTER now! ♥♥♥♥

[@OrchestrationOnline]

[@enriquesanchez2001]

@@OrchestrationOnline👍

[@lucarizzocomposer]

Welcome back, Thomas! ❤ Great score!!

[@emilygclarinet]

So colorful and creative!

[@annadieckhoff]

Really light and fun arrangement Andrew! Those eighth note figures in the winds at the end are so great. Glad to get back to the challenge entries too Thomas, hope your condition continues to improve!

[@peterbouma3943]

I like this approach a lot, the piece lends itself very well to a chamber setting. Apart from Thomas's concerns, I like your solution to the sixteenth runs. I'm less convinced about the repeated sixteenths when they come in the woodwinds after CC. I agree with Thomas about using oboe instead of flute. But in all, a great entry.

[@olivierherment1188]

I am a philistine (beotian google translator)) I listen to you, I think I understand Thank you

[@andrewoliva]

I personally liked having the flute an octave higher in the first bar, and I think in a chamber context sections like m14 would benefit from less unison doubling (though it might work better in a softer dynamic context, as in m32 - but maybe unison doubling still shouldn't be employed as frequently as it is in these 56 bars). I agree that at m34 the flute is probably a little too low, even when combined with only three other instruments, to be the melody. You could adjust the register the instruments are playing in, leave the flute out and give the melody to the clarinet, or use another instrument entirely. Also I loved the pizz at BB! Glad to have you back, Thomas! Hope you continue to feel better!

[@noelleggett5368]

Andrew, I think all of Thomas’s comments are on point. But, more than that, I think you really missed an opportunity here. Your idea of an octet is a fantastic one. I’d like you to have a look at Beethoven’s octet for winds in E flat, Op.103, and rescore what you’ve done for pairs of oboes, clarinets, bassoons and horns (taking into account what Thomas has mentioned about giving players the downbeat to help them keep in time). I think Beethoven’s own choice of instruments and your talent for finding the ‘locked-in’ energy of his score will really unleash something magical.

[@herveorus7432]

Hi Andrew, nice Octet approach ! It sounds designed for a small ensemble. On the mockup side, I think it is not really supporting this chamber decision (VST sound issues ?). Anyway, I like your score ! well done !