Orchestration of Chopin Étude Op 10 No 4 (by Guy Bacos)

[Guy Bacos]

For the Chopin purist, this may be a sin, but I thought it would be fun to orchestrate his [url=

Op 10 No 4[/url]. Being a pianist, nothing will ever top the piano version, no question about that, this was more of a fun challenge.

You'll noticed, my orchestrated version is a bit slower than the speed most pianists play it today. Hope you enjoy it!

[url=http://guybacos.com/audio/Chopin%20Etude%20No%204%20Orchestration.mp3]Chopin Étude Op 10 No 4 in C# minor orchestrated by Guy Bacos[/url]

MIR/Sage Gatehead Hall

[jeancello]

Hi Guy,

I really like it a lot!

Even though I'm a little bit of a  purist and I know the piece very well, you manage to capture the essence of the piano performance and bring it alive in this arrangement. I like it a that speed even for piano performance.

Great sound too, it sounds a bit different than most of your other demos, not sure to explain exactly why though. The orchestra sounds clearer than usual but it maybe in part because of the arrangement itself...

I like the way you use the percussions (snare drum in particular) . Really creative! 

Jean Roy

[jeancello]

 Hi again Guy,

If I may suggest another Chopin study that would be very interesting for wind instruments, it is opus 10 no.2.

Jean Roy

[Guy Bacos]

Thanks Jean!

Glad you enjoyed it!  ;) About the sound, I'm not sure either, I think it's partly the Sage Hall and partly me trying to always improve my sound. But I think you're right about the sound being clearer than usual. One thing I was more attentive to this time, is making sure certain sounds didn't overlap too much with following passages. Ex. a timp or bass drum hit, if you are not using the secco hit, don't let the sound ring for ever. Certain instruments, depending on range and dynamic, tend to ring longer and should be cut off at a certain point.

Yes, the snare was key in the orchestration, it made all the difference and getting the right accents, and in places it was fun to be creative a bit beyond the score.

[Guy Bacos]

@jeancello said:

 Hi again Guy,

If I may suggest another Chopin study that would be very interesting for wind instruments, it is opus 10 no.2.

Jean Roy

Yeah, I could see that. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Errikos]

I would call this Orchestration-Disneyation of the etude. This scoring eschews the original spirit of the etude and substitutes it with frolic without changing the notes or the tempo. Carl Stalling and Fred Qwimby would approve.

[Guy Bacos]

😉

4 bars of the complete score

[William]

 Guy,

This is a very skillful orchestration you did, and I know that you as a fine pianist are aware of the nuances of the original piano work.  As an orchestrator you are doing a new interpretation which is very imaginative and I thought was excellent.  Some people just don't like orchestrations of keyboard music.  For example, an organist I know was ridiculing the spectacular Eugene Ormandy orchestrations of Bach fugues as well as the brilliant Stokowski  arrangements which are among the greatest orchestration/performances I've ever heard.  Why? To be a "purist" I suppose.  However, those arrangements are some of my favorite recordings ever!  Anyway, I think you did a great job on this Chopin.