Do you think we tend to write more for the group we play in?

I noticed something: When I was playing in the 2nd violins, I was always writing something really good for the 2nds, and always felt bad when they didn't get a good part. Now I play viola, and I'm giving the viola all sorts of good melodies. And this isn't just because I know more about them. It's just, well, because.

What do you think? Do we, as composers, write more for what group we play in, not only because we know how to write for them better? And do you think it's something we just do, or do we think about it?

Heklaphone

I don't think so. Or at least, I don't do that. If the bassoons (the instrument I typically play) have the most boring or tedious line in the world, I don't go and change it (as long as I deem it a decent part). However, I have done the opposite. I've written for an ensemble where I didn't care too much for the principal oboist. So I didn't give him anything decent and intentionally threw any long, chord tones that I wanted his way. Oops.

I'm the composer I don't play in any section, (instead I write for all of them)

You mean "do we write better for those instruments we play" ?

Well I think so, speaking for me only, yes i do write better for those I play (those who know better)

I won't lie, I've been very biased to giving Trombones quality parts to play.

I write the parts I want instruments to play, regardless of anything else but the piece itself. If the piece is one hour long and requires one lone note on a tubular bell, that will be it. The guy can go have lunch and enter the stage just to sound that note, but as long as it is done, I don't care how, it's fine. I don't agree with bending pieces to please the players or to "be fair."

Nothing is fair. If I compose a piece it's supposed to sound like that because I made it. Same for everyone else who composes something. The means by which it is made listenable are the ones supposed to adapt to the message being conveyed, not the opposite. You never heard of a building built "while evidencing the individual work of each worker," for example. xD

More on-topic, though, I don't write more for piano than what I think should be written. I don't write better for it either (in fact I tend to neglect its abilities, writing more in my limited style of playing, purely because I like how it sounds) but it's logically the instrument I make no mistakes in writing for, because I know how to play it. xD

If we talk about instruments we don't like, then I do shun oboes a lot because I don't like their sound much. I usually hide them in woodwind chords without ever evidencing them, or I use them to double flutes when I need their line to be clear. Oboe solos make me go insane. So far I've only done that in some background music for spoken dialogue in my operetta.

Lone trumpets kill me too.

I give myself the best scraggy... I get jealous when the range doesn't work and I have to give something really happening to someone else.

...

I won't lie, I've been very biased to giving Trombones quality parts to play.

"have been" means past tense? I hope so ;)

Graham, I think you have to keep the bigger picture in mind. I won't write for an instrument because I pity them, but only if it's fitting

I don't think so. I play viola - so I stand at a different vantage point really. I try to make my viola parts more interesting to play than the johnny-one-notes you often encounter in concert repertoire. To me, I worry if any parts of mine are really loaded with fun. I've noticed that my parts are generally relative to parts of a machine in that they all have to be together in order for the piece to work - and I would say analyzed in that manner. That said, I think I tend to give my material to each of the parts equally. Iono.. good question!

I rather think some composers tend to conform to write for the group (community) that surrounds them, that they want to fit in or that pushes them in some direction with its views. These people don't have individuality and eventually personal voice.

I rather think some composers tend to conform to write for the group (community) that surrounds them, that they want to fit in or that pushes them in some direction with its views. These people don't have individuality and eventually personal voice.

I'm not exactly sure about that. This forum is a very good example of the wrongness in that statement really. Many of the students on this forum who write tonal music, for example, aren't conforming to the music surrounding them at the university or colleges they are attending (many of which play modern styles of music.) I for example, compose music I want to write - and largely without the influence of anyone but myself (and occassionally members on this forum who want me to 'try' to write a certain way). Iono, I do disagree with this though!

1) Composers write what they feel will sound good.

2) If the composer is an avid performer, obviously they will have an inclination to hear in their minds ideas in that medium.

I'm not exactly sure about that. This forum is a very good example of the wrongness in that statement really.

Err... The forum doesn't prove anything and I wasn't talking about the forum members in particular, and obviously not about all composers, as I explicitly said.

I think most people do I however don't. Lately I have been writing mainly for orchestra but I am a singer, I just find instrumental music easier to write for some reason.

I rather think some composers tend to conform to write for the group (community) that surrounds them, that they want to fit in or that pushes them in some direction with its views. These people don't have individuality and eventually personal voice.

that's not lack of individuality, that's practicality. writing for the musicians you play with means it'll get played.

I'd say yes and no, lol.

I tend to write more for the two instruments I'm strong at because I know my way around them very well and musically, I think it terms of these instruments.

In terms of ensembles though, I'm yet to finish one that includes my instruments :lol:

Flutes have interesting parts in concert band music anyway, but I tend to make woodwind parts more interesting.

a true composer shouldn't be greedy for good pieces, heh.