I can produce orchestrations for a variety of line-ups ranging from a three piece band to full orchestra with choir. Here are some examples. Hopefully I might have some audio to go with them at some point.
Climbing Over Rocky Mountain, large pit orchestration
Instrumentation:
Reed 1 (Flute db. Piccolo), Reed 2 (Oboe db. Cor Anglais), Reed 3 (Clarinet db. Flute), Reed 4 (Clarinet db. Bass Clarinet), French Horn, 2 Trumpets (db. Flugelhorn and Piccolo Trumpet), Trombone, Drums, Tuned Percussion, Keyboard 1 (Piano), Keyboard 2 (Synth), 2 Violins, Viola, Cello, Bass Guitar. (17 players.)
This was essentially an updating of Sullivan’s 1879 orchestration (which was functional rather than inspirational). The brief was to create a sound both classical and contemporary, using a large modern pit orchestra.
Download Climbing Over Rocky Mountain Orchestration
©2003 Ben Wiles. All rights reserved.
I Enjoy Being A Girl, commercial orchestral reduction
Instrumentation:
Reed 1 (Flute db. Alto Sax), Reed 2 (Tenor Sax), Trumpet, Trombone, Drums, Tuned Percussion, Keyboard 1 (with conductor’s cues), Keyboard 2, Violin, Cello, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar. (12 players.)
This is a by-ear reduction of Don Sebesky’s 17-piece Broadway orchestration for the 2002 revival of Flower Drum Song, and was commissioned for a Bird College end of year show in 2006. The instrumentation had already been set, so I worked with what I was given.
Download I Enjoy Being A Girl Orchestration
©2006 Ben Wiles. All rights reserved.
Arms of an Angel: voices and strings (excerpt)
Instrumentation:
8 solo singers (SSAATTBB), Piano, 2 Violins, Viola, Cello. (5 players, 8 singers.)
This curious arrangement of Sarah McLaghlan’s song was commissioned by Toccata Music, and could have gone in any direction. As I had become a bit bored of standard rock and pop arrangement, I thought: string quartet! I threw in the piano for good measure.
The voices and strings interweave in a lovely way. I only wish I had a recording of it!
Download Arms of an Angel (excerpt)
©2010 Ben Wiles. All rights reserved.
I have also done a lot of stuff for much smaller ensembles, but small ensemble writing never looks impressive on the page.