Writing for instruments which aren't even heard.

I don't quite get it, what's the point in writing for instruments which aren't even heard in louder passages in the orchestra? For example if a cor anglais is given a counter-melody or something in a loud passage, how am I supposed to hear it? Even if I have a score, try as I might I probably won't be able hear the cor anglais unless it plays really loud. Most people won't have scores with them and how are they supposed to hear it?

Often when looking at a score of a piece I heard before reveals lots of little details that I've missed and can't hear even if I listen to the piece again.

Are these details picked up by our sub-conscience and will the piece just not feel the same without them?

Well, individually, each of those instruments will be inaudible. But collectively, they add to the musical soundscape. These subtleties are much of why orchestral works have so much replay value.

I see, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts I guess.

Hey, why don't you try it out, write something with those "unheard instruments" and then take them out, see if it does something..

or just find another piece and download it and take out those unheard parts...

Well, individually, each of those instruments will be inaudible. But collectively, they add to the musical soundscape. These subtleties are much of why orchestral works have so much replay value.

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While indeed you probably cannot and should not consciously hear every instrument individually all the time, if you have a cor anglais solo playing an important counter-melody in a tutti section, then you fail at orchestration.

While indeed you probably cannot and should not consciously hear every instrument individually all the time, if you have a cor anglais solo playing an important counter-melody in a tutti section, then you fail at orchestration.

It was just a random example that came into my mind.

And no I wouldn't write anything like that. It's easy to make every instrument audible when using a virtual orchestra really. :)

I would copy a section of a piece into your virtual orchestra, mix it until it sounds about right, then remove all the "unnecessary" parts and see what you get.

I also think it's harder to hear individual parts on a recording than at an actual concert - that's just me, though.

I also think it's harder to hear individual parts on a recording than at an actual concert - that's just me, though.

Well yeah in a concert you can actually see who is playing.

... and with a recording you get to sit at home, listening to it over and over, glaring at the score like a hungry hawk eyeing out every subtle little movement in the orchestration. :shifty: