Orchestration Lesson: Rachmaninoff, Part 1

Studying the first half of Rachmaninoff's dark work of genius, the Isle of the Dead. There are epic film cues borrowed nearly wholesale from many pages of this sprawling masterpiece. There's nothing morbid or weepy here, but a boundless imagination and a sincere, brave look at mortality.

[willcwhite]

Another phenomenal video. One request: could you please try to 'equalize' the volume between music and voiceover? I find myself having to turn the music portions way up and then I'm blasted with the voiceover. Would be greatly appreciated, especially in soft music sections.

[wesleycurryii]

Thank you, tremendously thank you. The tone of your voice is like portato tenor horns with a touch of reeds, and the pedagogy is clear, distinct, and effective. I have only begun orchestrating in the last year, and though I listened intently to Symphonies my entire life, at 57 years of age, am only beginning to understand the balances of instruments in the Full Orchestra as an instrument having been orchestrating daily for about 8 hours a day, over the last year. Incredible knowledge in your lessons, extremely well described. I am committed, and hope to be a patron for you to continue these lessons. Last year I achieved my first contract to score a feature length film (Had Betsy Brandt (Breaking Bad), Tom Arnold, Jim O'Heir (Parks & Recreation) Nick Searcy (3 Billboards outside Edding Mo.) Jim DuMont (Trumbo, Deepwater Horizon, Jurrasic World). And went into the project having absolutely no experience in orchestration, only the drive, and solid history of Piano Perfomance in The Second City. So, as a full time composer, I will be going through each of your lessons, having experienced this one, and gaining the feeling like I am ever more familiar with the instrument that I love, the Symphonic Orchestra. Thank you again, and My Brutish Cadenza. Wesley Lawrence Curry II

[pessilevanto]

Thomas Goss - a gift that keeps on giving.

[embcomposer]

Maravillosa obra, gracias Thomas por tu excelente explicación, sigo con la segunda parte de inmediato....

[EnriqueG.O]

Rachmaninov was a true genius, sometimes misunderstood by german oriented/contemporary musicians. Thank you for sharing and best regards from Spain.

[Tobiax]

Great lesson again! Maybe you could leave the colors in so it would be easier to follow your points while listening the score.

[maxtofone]

Thanks Thomas for this series on Rachmaninoff 'Isle of the Dead', what an amazing composition...

[ethanelseth]

Christmas came early! Long live the Rach! Thanks Thomas!

[MattLamPiano]

Great video! This is such a haunting piece, I find it very related to his 2nd symphony and 3rd piano concerto, certainly some motives are reused within the 3 works

[sashakindel]

10:01 In 100 Orchestration Tips, you warn against writing stopped horns lower than written middle C, but the lowest pitch here is over an octave below that. I get the impression your admonishments there are directed primarily at loud stopping - is that right? It's not totally clear.

[Flatscores]

Especially in the tuttis I can see how my countryman Eller developed his orchestral sound in the context of Russian composers and works like these.

[dariuswilkins]

These lessons are extraordinary! Such depth and detail and all for free!

[maxtofone]

Thanks a lot Thomas for this great Rachmaninoff orchestration lesson and analysis... Cheers, Max T.

[timflatus]

Have to slightly disagree with you here. I think Rachmaninov's finest orchestration is his Symphonic Dances and Symphony #3. If you ever do more on Rachmaninov, please consider one of those. That said I love the Isle of the Dead and Symphony #2, so I'm very happy you've covered this.

[Jiwpgakis]

I wish he had done more pieces like this or his 2. symphony (at least the 1st movement).

[ManuProduktions]

Perfect timng! We are beginning to play this work tomorrow in our university orchestra.

[RenaldoRamai]

This was excellent. Thank you very much.

[melindaphoenix]

Thank you so much for your videos they mean a lot, I swear one day when i make enough money I'll donate to you <3

[TheMindCrushGroup]

Hey Thomas! Really nice and appreciated video. Could you, sometime in the future, dedicate a single video to each section of the orchestra? Brass for example is one of the most difficult for me.

[sfbirdclub]

I am confused by your speaking of "a [ah] two". Since this is Italian (right?) shouldn't it be A[AH] DUE? Or, in English, "BOTH" oboe/flute etc.?