Keeping Everyone Occupied?

[Ruro]

Lo all, this is regarding my less then amateur attempt at composing a Concerto ^_^;;

I feel kinda rude asking about this, I feel like I'm requesting some rather expensive information, but I'm gonna push it a little (since I have NO one else to turn too ). So thanks for any and all replies!

It's going alright tbh! A couple of problems come to mind that I'm having trouble with, completely different they are.

1) Because of PC Limitations I have till now composed solely for Strings & Piano, sounds wonderful! But really, is there a Concerto which doesn't encompass Woodwind & Brass? Hell, if I didn't use them I must be missing on out on some strategic level with the sound they produce by themselves, let alone combinational purposes.
 So fine, I just picked the ones from GPO that sound reasonably attuned to my Theme etc, except how do I involve them!?
 Realistically, I can't have the Brass band just playing 20 notes in the whole piece!? I mean, atm I have just jammed them with a few Crotchets and Minums to flow with the tune, but is this... reasonable? Honestly, I dunno how I can have them do something else, other wise there will be friggin 40 different variations of a tune being played among each ensemble of instruments or whatever!

2) Other end of the spectrum, this is something I seriously lack. I have only played Piano since March this year, and even then I havn't had the luxery of more then (probably) 10 lessons. So theory is at a minimum, the problem I have following this is Chord Structures / Progressions.
 The piano, I LOVE IT, I want to use it, but I am CONSTANTLY stuck with Octaves and Single note repetition playing out a tune. Hear and there I have added 5th's and 3rd's to give a little density and keep the harmony (or whatever the word is). But elsewise I'm stuck with the same stuff, LAST thing I want is an anticlimatic Cadenza :/
 Having said this, I will look into some theory books and Internet Sites, just wondering if you had any tips on this while I'm at it >_<

Well, I think I'm done, sorry for the lengthy post, guess I just wanted to be clear ^_^;;

Oh, and maybe dropping some info or a website link to a Site describing copyright details for composed pieces (An official Site/Organsiation must exist?). lol, just curious alright, I'm maybe a little paranoid about my work

Thank you in advance!

[Bob]

If you're the composer, you can compose whatever you want.  It doesn't matter what instruments you have.  If you don't want them to play, don't write the part.  If you want them in there just because they're part of an orchestra, then write something. 

It's fine to have only a few notes for an instrument.  You're the composer.

A professional orchestra plays whatever was written.  No bassoon part?  Then they don't call the bassoon player for that piece.  A school orchestra might only use music that covers all of their instruments or they might redo things to make sure everyone has a part to play.  The aim is different with the school orchestra though.

Don't get hung up on the computer sounds.  Those are not what it actually sounds like in real life.  You can capture your idea, but it's captured using those computer sounds on your own computer with your own speakers, etc.  That may be very different than what it would sound like with a real life orchestra.

Good luck on composing though.

[gorbee natcase]

As I am not a composer I can not do anything other than hypothosise on how I would tackle it. I do think it is important to come up with ideas in your head first and not trying to force anything and then try them out on the piano to get it clear to yourself

1st pick a format i.e. fast slow fast

2nd of all I would come up with an idea or theme to fit a basic rhythm iron it out.

3rd I would develop the idea with variations on the orrigional theme thinking of the bass and treble/ I would take the piece forward phrase by phrase keeping in mind what I want to do with the piece further along, what keys I am going to take the piece into and how to do it. Try not to get carried away as a great piece that took time to compose with real thought for detail is much better than something bashed out in a hurry. I do hope you all the best 

  Coming to think of it I would start with a sonata as writing for one instrumment well would give me the confidence and experience try more challenging composition

[Ruro]

Thanks for the replies!

 Bob: That's fair enough! I read somewhere at what seemed a very reasonable site, the need to keep all the performers occupied, I guess I shouldn't get caught up in it then Regarding the instruments themselves, I decided to load the lot of them, Clarinets, Flutes, Basoons etc. and just hearing the sound produced gives me an idea of how to introduce them. I really need to introduce them anyway, purely strings does sound a bit anticlimatic and empty, as there doesn't seem to be enough "Density" and stuff.
 Aye, I need to get that into my head as well, the sounds GPO produces will be very different from the real thing. I mean every recording of the same piece I hear somehow vary! Perhaps I should try and prepare for such results.
 And yes, I am the composer lol

 Gorbee Natcase: I suppose that format would be applied to both individual movements and the set altogether (If I ever get around to more movements). I am keeping in mind the whole build up etc., practising some self restraint on it aswell. I spend so long creating & writing for the instruments, it feels like the piece should be much longer then it really is >_< So I keep an eye out for that.
 As for the theme, I have one, I'm wondering though if I should introduce it in the beginning. Somehow I havn't, yet it sounds atleast reasonable! The variations of a theme never seems particularly difficult, but maybe my variations aren't particularly interesting ^_^;;

 Thanks again though! I have been thinking about the whole Chord thing, and I think somehow my chords clash with the simplistic theme etc, so I need to work on the piece as whole I believe to introduce them O_o