Ben Newhouse – Orchestration 2: Writing Techniques for Full Orchestra
Writing for the orchestra brings immense credibility in the musical world. Not only is this ability used to measure a composer’s skill in concert, academic, and many other musical communities, a successful career in orchestration can afford significant financial rewards as well.
Building on the techniques presented in Orchestration 1, which primarily covers the individual orchestral instruments and families, Orchestration 2 equips students with advanced strategies and approaches to writing for full orchestra. Each of the weekly lessons addresses a common issue in orchestra music, from making orchestration choices based on the tone color of the various instruments, to voicing chords and progressions. The course also presents an in-depth look at orchestrating from single layer material such as solos and homophonic statements, to complex textures of four or more layers – music that is too complex to fit into a traditional melody/countermelody/harmony format.
Examples are first presented as simplified sketches, allowing students to compare a passage for full orchestra with a simpler, piano-only version. This process allows students to see the process the composer took from start to finish. The musical examples from the first ten weeks of the course are pulled from classical literature, including Ludwig Van Beethoven, Igor Stravinsky, Bela Bartok, Gustav Holst, Peter Tchaikovsky, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Examples from the final two weeks of the course are pulled from film score literature, including scores from John Williams, Aaron Zigman, and Marco Beltrami.
The course materials are delivered in the form of reading assignments, musical examples, and interactive activities. The musical examples are framed in an engaging interactive interface, which combines the notation with the audio. All material is supplemented with hands on guidance from the professor.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Sequence and notate music for full orchestra
- Create a full-length piece for full orchestra
- Analyze full orchestral scores
- Demonstrate their understanding of traditional and contemporary orchestration techniques
Syllabus
Lesson 1 Color Choices
Lesson 2 Orchestrating Dynamics
Lesson 3 Orchestrating Lines
Lesson 4 Orchestrating Harmonic Material
Lesson 5 Orchestrating Single-Layered Textures
Lesson 6 Orchestration in a Two-Layered Environment
Lesson 7 Orchestration in a Three-Layered Environment
Lesson 8 Complex Textures of Four or More Layers
Lesson 9 Horizontal Relationships I
Lesson 10 Horizontal Relationships II
Lesson 11 Hollywood Textures I
Lesson 12 Hollywood Textures II
Requirements
Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements
Completion of Orchestration 1 or equivalent knowledge and experience is required.
Students must have:
- an intermediate competency in using a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and sampling library
- an ability to record multiple tracks in their DAW and create an MP3 of the final mix
Required Textbook(s)
- None required
Software Requirements
- DAW/sequencing software suitable for orchestral mock-up production (Logic Pro, Cubase, Pro Tools, Digital Performer, etc.)
- Orchestral sample library (Komplete, Vienna Symphonic Library, East West Quantum Leap, etc.)
- Notation software such as Finale or Sibelius is recommended. Students who can produce scores in their DAW or by hand can use their current technique
Instructors
Author & Instructor
Ben Newhouse’s commercial music has been used in more than 3,000 episodes of television, including projects for ABC, CBS, NBC, and most major cable networks. Newhouse’s music is the soundtrack for the Disney DVD logo, several independent films, and Las Vegas stage shows. Newhouse was awarded the BMI Pete Carpenter Fellowship in 1999.
The University Continuing Education Association awarded his Orchestration 1 course “Best New Online Course” in 2009, and Berklee awarded Newhouse a “Distinguished Faculty Award” in 2015. Newhouse has also guest lectured at Pescara Conservatory in Pescara, Italy and Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, Australia. He authored Producing Music with Digital Performer (Berklee Press), which has sold 15,000 copies. He has been quoted in multiple publications, including Electronic Music magazine and acousticmidiorchestration.com.
As a composer during his college years at Eastman School of Music where he received his bachelor of music degree, and graduated magna cum laude, his music was performed primarily by Eastman groups and groups along the East Coast. “Heat,” a relentless overture for orchestra, received the Howard Hanson Award in the late 1990s and was premiered by the Eastman School Symphonic Orchestra. Newhouse is also a full-fellowship master’s degree alumnus of the University of Southern California, completing an MBA and a Business of Entertainment graduate certificate program with the School of Cinematic Arts.
What’s Next?
When taken for credit, Orchestration 2: Writing Techniques for Full Orchestra can be applied towards these associated programs:
Associated Certificate Programs
- General Music Studies Professional Certificate
- General Music Studies Advanced Professional Certificate
- Composing and Orchestrating for Film and TV Professional Certificate
- Orchestration for Film and TV Advanced Professional Certificate
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