Writing a symphony is perhaps the most ambitious task a composer can undertake. Although Mozart was composing symphonies when he was a boy, for most people, construction of a symphony can take months or years. Although writing a symphony is beyond the scope of any single how-to article, we'll help you learn more about the process of planning, writing and revising a symphony.

First, you need to hire a venue. Decide how many rehearsals you'll need. Then you need to hire the musicians and a conductor. Call the local musicians union for quotes on appropriate fees and length of rehearsals etc.

No. The only solo instrument symphony is the organ symphony (common in the Romantic era, written by composers such as Vierne and Widor). It can, however be written for a subset of a full orchestra. If you were to write a piece with a solo instrument (or group of solo instruments), it would be a concerto for that instrument, e.g. a bassoon concerto. This would still have an accompaniment part, usually orchestral.

It can be difficult. Mozart wrote his first symphony when he was 8 years old, but that was just a few woodwinds and strings. The larger the orchestra you plan to have in the symphony, the more difficult it is going to be to write a quality symphony.

There is no right time! If you feel ready and you have an idea what you want to write, go ahead and get started!

Write as few or as many as you have in you. Start with one, and see where that gets you.

Not only is it morally acceptable, it is recommended - the more angst, the better. If the tragic event was something you experienced firsthand, it would be advisable to start writing the music as soon as possible, ideally while you can still painfully relive every detail so you can fully infuse the sentiments into your composition. Time heals wounds, but art endures as a faithful reminder.

Listening to your symphony played all the way through will give you a whole slew of new insights on your work. Your friends and performers might also have suggestions of changes you can make that you might never have thought of yourself.

Play through your symphony again. Take out anything that doesn’t jar with your artistic vision. If you feel that your symphony is too long or too short, adjust accordingly.

Use this time to think about and do other things. Taking time away from your music will allow you to come back to it with fresh ears, so you can edit with a clear head

Traditionally, symphonies are written for the following instrumental types: strings (violin, viola, cello, and bass) woodwinds (2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, and 2 bassoons) brass (2 French horn, 2 trumpets with a small orchestra) and percussion (2 tympani, triangle, and cymbal) for a small orchestra. A medium size is when you can add a piccolo, English horn, bass clarinet, contra bassoon to the woodwinds and double the number of French horns and add 3 trombone plus a tuba to the brass as well as extra percussion instruments. If you can go larger, go for it.

Using the outline you created earlier, construct each individual movement. While writing, you’ll need to be constantly making decisions regarding different musical techniques and styles within your piece. Some of those techniques include:

In order to write, you will either need staff paper and a writing implement, such as a pencil or pen, or some kind of music writing software. Writing by hand is problematic because, in order to hear what you’ve played, you have to be able to play an instrument or you need to find someone else who can.With music notation software, you’re able to hear what you’ve written immediately, using the computer playback.

Symphonies are traditionally composed of four separate movements, which each have different forms.The first movement tends to be in Sonata form. The second movement is usually on the slower side and may be a set of variations. The third movement will generally be a Minuet or Scherzo and Trio. And the fourth movement is there to give the piece some closure and is often in rondo form.

Essentially, symphonies are musical stories, and should have characters, or, themes. These themes are then explored in different keys throughout the piece and in music, in what’s known as exposition.

Practice writing your music the way those composers wrote theirs. It isn’t plagiarism to be inspired by someone else, and that inspiration fused with your own point of view will make it so that your music will sound completely like your own.

The most important thing you’ll need while writing your symphony is an idea. To generate ideas, you’ll need to start thinking creatively. Set up a musical session with some of your instrument playing friends to improvise some potential melodies. Look back through old journals to remind yourself of feelings or life events that you might be able to use in your work.

Be a student of music. Study the scores of symphonies that you like. Listen to them constantly and analyze their movement, tempo and melodic movement. The more you engross yourself in your art, the better.

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