The Challenge of Orchestral Reductions: A Case Study of Writing a Reduction for Mozart's 5th Violin Concerto, K. 219.

摘要

The purpose of this document is to develop a process for addressing the various challenges and issues inherent in writing an orchestral reduction for piano, and to create a new score designed to be useful to collaborative pianists in rehearsals and performance, through the case study of writing a new reduction for Mozart's 5th Violin Concerto in A major, K. 219.;The methodology includes an overview of the existing literature on orchestral reductions in order to establish an historical continuum and to articulate a recognized approach as to how one writes a reduction for piano. The three subsequent process chapters are dedicated respectively to each of the three movements of the concerto. Each chapter includes an analysis of the orchestral score itself and discusses the reduction of the score, section by section. Excerpts from existing editions are incorporated as appropriate in order to compare and contrast different reduction techniques. Issues that arise during the process are addressed, and solutions are offered to problematic passages based on a set of analytical procedures that involve harmonic, melodic, structural and performance-based considerations. Thus, this document offers a step-by-step process to what can otherwise be a very subjective task.;While the technical and aesthetic demands of undertaking the writing of a reduction are many, and the process often subjective, the intention was to create a methodology and develop systematic tools for approaching any reduction in an objective manner. Since music-making always has, and always will be one that involves artistry, creativity, and subjectivity, it is unreasonable to conclude that a definitive, completely un-subjective process could ever be developed. However, the resulting score, created by a collaborative pianist to be used by other collaborative pianists in performance and rehearsals reflects a process mindful of technical, practical and aesthetic concerns that ensures integrity to the original score.