contemporary music making for amateurs
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- Flexible scoring guidelines
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Calls for pieces
Flexible ensemble guidelines
How to write for flexible ensembles
COMA's ensembles are rarely of a standard line-up. There are many ways of scoring for a flexible group of instrumentalists. One of these ways is shown below:
For flexible amateur mixed ensemble with minimum of four, maximum of six parts:
Must include:
- Part 1 upper range selected from: flute violin oboe clarinet
- Part 2 upper middle range selected from: violin oboe clarinet viola saxophone trumpet
- Part 3 lower middle range selected from: viola saxophone horn bassoon trombone
- Part 4 lower range selected from: cello bassoon trombone tuba double bass
With optional:
- Part 5 keyboard selected from: piano keyboard
- Part 6 percussion untuned percussion (selected from: small handheld percussion, gong, bass drum, suspended cymbal, tom-tom. etc. - but be aware of the practicalities - and do suggest alternatives)
Composers can specify preferred orchestration, but pieces must be able to be played by any combination of the instruments in each group. It is normally the case that a mixture of instruments plays each individual line.
COMA' music director Simon Foxley is willing to advise composers on scoring and other performance matters. Please contact Simon through the COMA office.