411 MIDI Page at eMusicals

Orchestration

Arrangement

Sequence

Composition

Orchestration

The first thing I decide as I begin working on a new piece is its orchestration. Except for a few pieces, my works have all been written/arranged for an Orchestral Jazz Band(sometimes referred to as a Jazz Orchestra).
The orchestration for an Orchestral Jazz Band is as follows:

• Reed I: Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax
• Reed II: Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax
• Reed III: Flute, Clarinet, Tenor Sax
• Reed IV: Oboe, Clarinet, Tenor Sax
• Reed V: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Sax
• Trumpet I
• Trumpet II & III
• Trombone I & II
• Violin I & II
• Viola
• Cello
• Bass
• Guitar/Banjo
• Drums

The Reed parts play one of those specified instruments at any one moment.

I have indeed done works with other orchestrations. For instance, I recently finished a piece named "Music For A While" which I arranged for a woodwind quartet: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon.
I also have done a piece called "Birdland" which I arranged for a Marching Band orchestration.
Yet, I have done others for just Piano and Drums, and even a Clarinet/Bass Duet.

Unless otherwise noted, the standard orchestration for the pieces I write is that of an Orchestral Jazz Band.

Arrangement

The next thing to decide when working on a piece, is its arrangement. Generally, I will arrange my pieces as an accompaniment to the singer. Hence, as you listen to most musical works on this site, you will notice that something is missing: that is the main melody, the singer's voice.
I have done this because they may serve in a much better way to people who are into musicals. Though I don't sing personally, I have encountered friends, and acquaintances, who have needed accompaniment for a specific song. There have been times when it was diffucult for them to find someone such a pianist to record their piece. I was even asked at times to record their song on one my instruments(I play woodwinds).
Therefore, I have decided to include the majority of the musical pieces on this site in such format.
I have, however, written other pieces with the main melody included. In such instance, I will include a note stating the reason for doing so. Usually, it will be because I have noted that the arrangement will be much fuller in that manner.

This is a list of my sequenced arrangements/orchestrations as of now:

• The Flight Of The Bumble Bee
• He's The Wizard(From "The Wiz") - arranged for Piano and Drums.
• Ribbons Down My Back(From "Hello, Dolly!")
• Ribbons Down My Back(From "Hello, Dolly!") - this was my first MIDI arrangement, which I sequenced using ABC, a language which dates back to the early days of MIDI.
• Fugue by Mozart - arranged for a woodwind quartet: Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, and Baritone Sax.
• Birdland - arranged for a Marching Band orchestration.
• Elegance(From "Hello, Dolly!")
• I Put My Hand In(From "Hello, Dolly!")
• Motherhood March(From "Hello, Dolly!")
• Music For A While - an operatic piece arranged for a woodwind quartet: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon.
• Before The Parade Passes By(From "Hello, Dolly!")
• Sunrise, Sunset(From "Fiddler On The Roof")
• Be Prepared(From "The Lion King")
• Kiss, Kiss, Kiss(Sung by Yoko Ono)
• Forgot About Dre(Sung by Dr. Dre) - a hip-hop song, whose musical character caught my interest to arrange it.
• Family Affair(Sung by Mary J. Blige)
• Hello, Dolly: Overture(From "Hello, Dolly!")
• Hello, Dolly: Opening(From "Hello, Dolly!")
• Ribbons Down My Back: Reprise(From "Hello, Dolly!")
• Yonkers March(From "Hello, Dolly!")

Sequence

Thirdly, I must sequence the piece I am working on.
I do this with a piece of software named Music Write 2000 Professional by Voyetra.
The time spent to complete a piece will vary, depending on its length, complexity, and orchestration.
I sequence using Mouse Entry all the time. I group the instruments by their family as I have listed above in Orchestration. As dedication accompanies me, the real work begins.
As I sequence, I utilize many of the tools MIDI has to offer. I make good use of Pan, which is the assignment of balance of the musical parts to a specified output(in this case, right or left speaker). The Pan controller is very important. It adds depth to the MIDI piece. Without it(or incorrectly used), the musical piece would sound dull, flat, and without depth, of course. It would be like all the instruments are playing at you in a straight line. Something you'll doubtly find at a concert hall.
I write my pieces, and sequence my MIDI so that realism is reached almost to perfection. I have found MIDI's on the net, which could not fool a young child that the MIDI music is being played by real instruments. Which really isn't. They're just sounds being played by the sound card installed on the computer. However, full advantage should be taken of MIDI, so that the musical pieces sound as realistic and genuinely as possible; which is exactly what I do... at my best, at least.
Going on, I control the dynamics of the piece with the Main Volume controller, and I set the volume for each track with the Expression controller. There are those who advice that this should be done the other way: set the volume with the Main Volume controller, and set dynamics with the Expression controller. I agree somewhat with that. That is definitely useful when one utilizes MIDI to interact with other electronic instruments, such as keyboards, and electric guitars. However, I am currently writing MIDI for listening purposes only. Therefore, sequencing with the current set-up in mind is ideal.

Composition

As for composing, I have done several works.
All my works are instrumental, and have been orchestrated for an Orchestral Jazz Band, except for a few. Since I am writing a musical, I intend to utilize the majority of my original works in that musical. I will eventually add lyrics to those pieces, as my musical progresses. For now, though, they are just instrumental pieces.
This is a list of my original compositions as of now. I have named each of them a keyword that best describes their musical mood. When I add lyrics to each one of them, they will get different names:

• Mystery
  
• Curiosity - a duet for Clarinet and Bass.
  
• Special
  
• Nonya - Don't ask why, or what it means.
  
• Sky
  
• WWChoir - a Woodwind Choir orchestrated for: two Piccolos, two Flutes, two Oboes, two Clarinets, and Bass Clarinet.
  
• Love's In The Distance - the piece to which I have added lyrics, and which is to be utilized in my musical.
• Commandments - just a piano piece at the moment.
• Happy - currently arranged for two trombones and bass.

This is just a list of my sequenced works. I have many other pieces and themes which either I have on paper or that I'm still to develop. Also, this is a good amount of musical works I have finished, considering I began to get involved with MIDI several months ago.