Learn About Orchestration

In the first installment of the series, "L'équilibre et le contraste dans la succession de scènes orchestrales" (Balance and Contrast in the Succession of Orchestral Scenes), Cordero builds upon the groundbreaking work of Charles Koechlin, who first addressed the concept of "successive balance" in his "Traité de l'orchestration" (1954). Koechlin recognized that the principles governing successive sound blocks differ from those applicable to simultaneous sound streams, considering not only intensity but also the more subtle parameter of "volume" (a general perception of timbral quality). Cordero expands this perspective by significantly increasing the number of parameters involved in successive balance and giving equal importance to the notion of "contrast." He defines an orchestral scene as a time window in which the instrumental forces and their usage remain stable, with successive contrast created by the temporal juxtaposition of two different scenes. The article explores the various technical and structural functions of scene changes, the management of contrast in terms of timing, frequency, and intensity, and the techniques for transitioning between scenes (sharp cut, dovetailing, and cross-fading). Cordero identifies several parameters contributing to successive balance and contrast, including color, tension, intensity, space, spectral richness, instrumental density, texture, polyphonic activity, and orchestral register. By elucidating the often unrecognized or unverbalized principles that make an orchestral effect successful, the "Cahiers d'orchestration" series aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of orchestration techniques. The modular format allows readers to navigate fluidly between "notebooks" to complete their understanding of certain concepts, while each monograph remains relatively self-contained. Numerous orchestral examples are provided to illustrate the concepts discussed, making this an invaluable resource for composers, orchestrators, and students of orchestration.

Through a detailed taxonomy, the authors categorize orchestration techniques into three key areas:

• Concurrent Grouping Cues: Explaining how instrumental blends create unified sonic textures.
• Sequential Grouping Cues: Unveiling how melodies, surface textures, and layered structures emerge through contrasts and continuities.
• Segmental Grouping Cues: Highlighting how perceptual boundaries and contrasts are crafted between distinct musical sections.