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Arranging For Instrumental Groups
Strings
The string section is a body of instruments composed of various stringed instruments. By the 19th Century orchestral music in Europe had standardized the string section into the following homogenous instrumental groups: first violins, second violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. The string section in a multi-sectioned orchestra is referred sometimes to as the “string choir.”[1]
The harp is also a stringed instrument, but is not a member of or homogenous with the violin family and is not considered part of the string choir. Samuel Adler classifies the harp as a plucked string instrument in the same category as the guitar (acoustic or electric), mandolin, banjo, or zither.[2] Like the harp these instruments do not belong to the violin family and are not homogenous with the string choir. In modern arranging these instruments are considered part of the rhythm section. The electric string bass and upright string bass—depending on the circumstance—can be treated by the arranger as either string section or rhythm section instruments.[3]
A group of instruments in which each member plays a unique part—rather than playing in unison with other like instruments—is referred to as a chamber ensemble.[4] A chamber ensemble made up entirely of strings of the violin family is referred to by its size. A string trio consists of three players, a string quartet four, a string quintet five, and so on.
In most circumstances the string section is treated by the arranger as one homogenous unit and its members are required to play preconceived material rather than improvise.
A string section can be utilized on its own (this is referred to as a string orchestra)[5] or in conjunction with any of the other instrumental sections. More than one string orchestra can be utilized.
A standard string section (vln., vln 2., vla., vcl, cb.) with each section playing unison allows the arranger to create a five-part texture. Often an arranger will divide each violin section in half or thirds to achieve a denser texture. It is possible to carry this division to its logical extreme in which each member of the string section plays his or her own unique part.
Size of the string section
Artistic, budgetary and logistical concerns will determine the size and instrumentation of a string section. Due to the large percussion section utilized in the Broadway musical West Side Story, composer Leonard Bernstein chose to utilize a string section without violas.[6]
George Martin, producer and arranger for The Beatles, warns arrangers about the intonation issues when only two like instruments play in unison. "After a string quartet," Martin explains, "I do not think there is a satisfactory sound for strings until one has at least three players on each line...as a rule two stringed instruments together create a slight "beat" which does not give a smooth sound."[7]
While any combination and number of string instruments is possible in a section a traditional string section sound is achieved with a violin-heavy balance of instruments.
| Reference | Author | Section Size | Violins | Violas | Celli | Basses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Arranged By Nelson Riddle"[8] | Nelson Riddle | 12 players | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| "Arranged By Nelson Riddle" | Nelson Riddle | 15 players | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| "Arranged By Nelson Riddle" | Nelson Riddle | 16 players | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| "Arranged By Nelson Riddle" | Nelson Riddle | 20 players | 12 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| "Arranged By Nelson Riddle" | Nelson Riddle | 30 players | 18 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| "The Contemporary Arranger"[9] | Don Sebesky | 9 players | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| "The Contemporary Arranger" | Don Sebesky | 12 players | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| "The Contemporary Arranger" | Don Sebesky | 16 players | 12 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| "The Contemporary Arranger" | Don Sebesky | 20 players | 12 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Notes
- ^ Adler, Samuel (2002). The Study Of Orchestration. New York: W.W. Norton. p. 111.
- ^ Adler, Samuel (2002). The Study Of Orchestration. New York: W.W. Norton. p. 89.
- ^ Sebesky, Don (1975). The Contemporary Arranger. New York: Alfred Pub. p. 117.
- ^ "Oxford Music Online". Retrieved 22 July 2011.
- ^ "String Orchestra". Collins English Dictionary. HarperCollins Publisher. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
- ^ Burton, Humphrey. "Leonard Bernstein by Humphrey Burton, Chapter 26". Retrieved 22 July 2011.
- ^ Martin, George (1983). Making Music: the Guide to Writing, Performing & Recording. New York: W. Morrow. p. 82.
- ^ Riddle, Nelson (1985). Arranged By Nelson Riddle. Secaucus, NJ: Warner Brothers Publications Inc. p. 124.
- ^ Sebesky, Don (1975). The Contemporary Arranger. New York: Alfred Pub. pp. 127–129.