Orchestration of a Variation on Brahms' Lullaby by @gaspard

I was recently inspired by @gaspard's vision for a "Space Battle" variation of Brahms' Lullaby (for @chopin's Lullaby Challenge):

I also link his YouTube video here:  Brahms Lullaby, Space Opera Version (not orchestrated)
You may also view his hand-written score here:

And you may also listen to his performance of this variation on his clavichord below.

In my orchestration of the piece I tried to channel @gaspard's vision for a "Space Battle" variation.  I added some dissonance in certain places and tried to make the orchestration overall sound as big as possible.  Let me know what you think of this collaboration!  I really got a kick out of writing this orchestration.  In the spirit of the original poster, I have included my hand-written score as well as a score exported from Musescore.  I hope you don't lose yourself in the mess of files!  LoL
Edit:  Also, it would be useful to know if the original Brahms' Lullaby is still audible in both the original and orchestral version.  Thanks for any comments, suggestions or critiques!

Yo Peter,

I really love this variation! Before 0:33 your manipulating of Brahms’s original melody is amazing when you use some Stravinskian chopping juxtaposition method to chop up and extend the melody with great effect. The first three notes become motive like, the notes after become syncopated. And then the D E F phrase such a great use of harp and glissandos throughout the strings and woodwinds to add some mysteries in it. The next phrase you push those mysterious power to climax and then suddenly you leave a purified version of the 2nd sentence of the original melody! The glockenspiel is so beautiful here as well as in the whole piece, and combining the piccolo here is so like purified crystal. I am sure the baby can be consoled here after the first half of suspension haha.

On 2/29/2024 at 9:17 AM, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

Also, it would be useful to know if the original Brahms' Lullaby is still audible in both the original and orchestral version

I think it’s very clear here, but less clear in the original version, probably just because of the timbre of clavichord making it less clear?

On 2/29/2024 at 9:17 AM, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

In the spirit of the original poster, I have included my hand-written score as well as a score exported from Musescore.

Although you are the paper composer, I have to say that @gaspard’s handwritten score is so beautiful which makes yours messy muahahahaha! Though of course it’s much better than my Beethovanian handwriting haha!!

Thx for sharing!

Henry

@gaspard

I don't see a stand alone post of yours for the entry, so I'll just say here that your entry is awesome to me. It's very colorful and jaunty, and even if I didn't know the space battle theme beforehand, I would've definitely stood in favor of it depicting a battle. Very cool music! Your writing is superb, and only outshined by your handwriting. The score is beautiful 😄

Peter, your orchestration is awesome too, and really brought Gaspard's music to life. It's very rich and heavy, but lighter when it needs to be. I like when you took out the clarinets and trumpets, that seemed like a wise orchestration decision to make the music more gentle over the flurry of harp notes. 

I think the theme could be easily heard with both versions. Maybe a little easier with the orchestra since it's not all homogenous in sound. 

On 3/20/2024 at 5:29 PM, Thatguy v2.0 said:

@gaspard

I don't see a stand alone post of yours for the entry, so I'll just say here that your entry is awesome to me. It's very colorful and jaunty, and even if I didn't know the space battle theme beforehand, I would've definitely stood in favor of it depicting a battle. Very cool music! Your writing is superb, and only outshined by your handwriting. The score is beautiful 😄

Peter, your orchestration is awesome too, and really brought Gaspard's music to life. It's very rich and heavy, but lighter when it needs to be. I like when you took out the clarinets and trumpets, that seemed like a wise orchestration decision to make the music more gentle over the flurry of harp notes. 

I think the theme could be easily heard with both versions. Maybe a little easier with the orchestra since it's not all homogenous in sound. 

 

Thanks thatguy, I appreciate it and I'm definitely excited for Mike's video (not putting any pressure on him or anything though) with all the variations.