Writing for solo instrument.

I really hate writing for a solo instrument (sans any accompaniment, even piano) because I haven't figured out what the heck to do with it.

I'm having trouble deciding what makes a really interesting piece for solo instrument. It's tricky.

I've seen a lot of pieces with extended techniques to keep the interest alive but I have been given guidelines to write a neoclassical piece for a solo instrument (sax) so it's not going to be wayyyyyyyyy out there, you know?

What would you suggest that I keep in mind when writing solo pieces like this, where (for the most part) only one note can be played at a time? I'm finding myself in a rut.

:closedeyes:

Listen to Bach's solo violin pieces. Please do.

Giselle, I still reckon it's worth giving it a go. It's an exercise I was "forced" into for various reasons. It does help you learn to imply harmony and rhythm in a monophonic line, develop a good melodic contour (good = you find it satsifactory). Best to choose an instrument you like, though. There are guidlines for melody writing so start with a motif, let it go!

As just said, Bach is an excellent instructor in conventional harmony/rhtym - the cello and violin suites.

:)

thanks people!

bach cello suites, i posted a score in the suggest a work forum

Definitely look at the cello suites. The thing you probably ought to do to make it work is write a melody and a simple accompanyment (just straight chords), and then try to work the chords into the melody as arpeggios or something. That seems to be what Bach does, especially in the Prelude of Cello Suite #1.

Or you could always just look at some solo guitar music :)

I really hate writing for a solo instrument (sans any accompaniment, even piano) because I haven't figured out what the heck to do with it.

I'm having trouble deciding what makes a really interesting piece for solo instrument. It's tricky.

I've seen a lot of pieces with extended techniques to keep the interest alive but I have been given guidelines to write a neoclassical piece for a solo instrument (sax) so it's not going to be wayyyyyyyyy out there, you know?

What would you suggest that I keep in mind when writing solo pieces like this, where (for the most part) only one note can be played at a time? I'm finding myself in a rut.

:)

Listen to Vivaldi's A minor concerto for the violin. Man, that was a nightmare to learn. XP

What concerns me about the piece I am writing (which has to be for saxophone) is that unlike a string instrument, a sax generally only plays one note at a time, which makes it even more complicated. grr!

I think I'm getting the hang of it. Thanks for the listening suggestions. I like the idea of writing the simple accompaniment and working that into the solo part, giving the impression of more than one instrument. cool.

Oh I love sax! I've written for sax solo before, maybe I can help - what kind of saxophone do you need to write for? Just the standard alto?

yes indeed!!

:cool: