Stravinsky - Orchestration

Question 1

What does ‘orchestration’ mean?

Answer 1

Setting music for an orchestra to play. Some music is written for orchestra from the very beginning - i.e. as the composer imagines and creates it. Other instances occur where the composer may take a piece s/he has written on (eg) a piano and turn it into a version for an orchestra.

Question 2

What was the size of the orchestra Stravinsky used for ‘The Rite of Spring’?

Answer 2

Huge - one of the largest ever.

Question 3

What is quintuple woodwind?

Answer 3

This is when 5 parts are written for each woodwind instrument section. I.e 5 flutes/piccolos; 5 oboes/cor Anglais; 5 clarinets/bass clarinet; 5 bassoons/bass bassoon. This would give 20 woodwind parts!!!!

Question 4

Describe the flute section used in the piece.

Answer 4

Three flutes, piccolo (high pitched flute), alto flute (lower pitched transposing instrument in G - sounds 4 notes lower than written).

Question 5

Which is lower in pitch - Cor Anglais or Oboe?

Answer 5

Cor Anglais is lower and more mellow.

Question 6

What is the correct order of pitch from low to high of the 3 types of clarinet used (clarinet in Bb, clarinet in D, bass clarinet in Bb)

Answer 6

Lowest: Bb Bass Clarinet
Middle: Bb Clarinet
Highest: Clarinet in D

Question 7

Which is the lowest instrument - bassoon or double bassoon?

Answer 7

Double bassoon (think ‘double bass’).

Question 8

What is the size of the brass section?

Answer 8

Extra Large: (eight horns, five trumpets, three trombones, two tubas).

Question 9

What is the lowest pitched brass instrument?

Answer 9

Tuba

Question 10

What instruments are used in the percussion section?

Answer 10

Large percussion section, including two timpani players and parts for tuned cymbals, tam-tam
(large orchestral gong) and guiro, etc.

Question 11

What type of strings are used in the piece?

Answer 11

Standard string section: Violin 1 & 2; Viola, Cello, Double Bass

Question 12

In which context is Italian used in the score?

Answer 12

The instrument names are in in Italian.

Question 13

What aspect in the score is written in French?

Answer 13

The key of the instruments used, e.g. a Horn in F is written as Corno (Italian) in Fa (F)

Question 14

What clef does the Bassoon start with?

Answer 14

The Alto (C clef), meaning middle C is the second line down on the stave.

Question 15

What is unusual about the opening orchestration?

Answer 15

It is a solo bassoon playing quite high up (C an octave above middle C).

Question 16

Why does Stravinsky use techniques like repeated down bows in the strings?

Answer 16

This gives more emphasis, power, aggression.

Question 17

Stravinsky uses double stopped chords. What is this?

Answer 17

Playing a chord on a string instrument - 2 notes at once.

Question 18

Why would Stravinsky use double stopping?

Answer 18

Thicken the texture for expressive effect.

Question 19

The double bass plays harmonics at figure 10. Explain what this means.

Answer 19

When the player rests her finger lightly on the string at a particular point then bows. The sound is a high pitched pure version of the string.

Question 20

Why do you think Stravinsky used harmonics?

Answer 20

To create change in timbre for expressive effect - a harmonic creates a particularly pure sound.

Question 21

Explain what pizzicato is?

Answer 21

When the string is plucked (NOT BOWED).

Question 22

Where does Stravinsky use pizz?

Answer 22

Eg. Violin 2 figure 4.

Question 23

Why do you think Stravinsky uses pizzicato?

Answer 23

For expressive effect - the timbre is very different. It can sound creepy, or comic, or soft, or jolly depending on the context of the music.

Question 24

Strings are frequently divided in the piece. What does this mean?

Answer 24

This means that the 5 string instrument sections of the orchestra (violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, D-bass) will be further sub-divided - e.g. violin 1 might be split into 2 groups, each group playing a different melodic/harmonic line. In the ROS at figure 10 there are 6 separate double bass parts!

Question 25

Why do you think Stravinsky sometimes uses divided strings?

Answer 25

Make the musical texture fuller. Make the harmony more complex, and consequently more varied and perhaps interesting.

Question 26

What is a glissando?

Answer 26

Sliding from one note to another note.

Question 27

Give an instance of Stravinsky using Glissando techniques.

Answer 27

Figure 11 in the violas.

Question 28

At figure 10 the celli play ‘Con sordino’. What does this mean?

Answer 28

With the mute - a little bit of rubber is attached to the bridge of the string instrument creating a duller tone. It can sound quite heart wrenching.

Question 29

At figure 10 the violi play ‘Col legno’. What does this mean?

Answer 29

Hit the string with the wood of the bow.

Question 30

What effect does ‘Col Legno’ give to the music?

Answer 30

A kind of angst, incessant tapping, foreboding (as if something bad is going to happen).

Question 31

In what ways does the trumpet timbre get varied?

Answer 31

(1) muted (object placed in the bell) (2) use of high pitch trumpet part (hard to play); (3) use of the trumpet in D (normally trumpet in Bb is used).

Question 32

What role do the horns play in the ‘Augurs section’?

Answer 32

Double and reinforce some of the string chords.

Question 33

In the introduction section, Stravinsky instructs the flutes to use the ‘flutter tongue’ technique (flttz). Explain this technique.

Answer 33

The flautist rolls his/her ‘Rs’ as she blows into the flute, creating a fluttering effect.

Question 34

Why do you think Stravinsky uses flutter tonguing?

Answer 34

When the technique is used int eh introduction the music has reached a stage of considerable complexity of pitch, rhythm and texture. The flutter tonguing helps add to this complexity and sense of building tension.

Question 35

What are the transposing instruments and their pitches in the ROS?

Answer 35

 Piccolo – sounds an octave higher than written.
 Double bass and double bassoon – sound an octave lower than written.
 Alto flute in G – sounds a perfect fourth lower than written.
 Cor anglais in F (corno inglese) and Horn in F – sound a perfect fifth lower than written.
 Clarinet in D, Trumpet in D – sound a major second higher than written.
 Clarinet in B♭ – sounds a major second lower than written.
 Clarinet in A – sounds minor third lower than written.
 Bass clarinet in B♭ – sounds major ninth lower than written.