Opera Editions for Chamber Orchestra and Smaller Ensembles
After almost a decade of experience in the field of orchestration for small ensembles, thanks to feedback and suggestions from conductors and musicians, we are pleased to announce a new publishing line-up: ChOsEn Opera Editions for chamber orchestra and smaller ensembles. More choice, with three different versions for each score. More readability of scores and parts, with new A4 and B4 formats. Revised and corrected scores and orchestra parts, ready for you to print and perform.
What is New in ChOsEn? Three Different Versions & More Flexibility
ChOsEn stands for Chamber Orchestra & Smaller Ensembles. All the operas and other major music masterpieces will be arranged for three different groups.
- Chamber Orchestra – 15 strings (5.4.3.2.1), flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, one or two percussionists, with extra or optional parts for instruments such as harp, organ, chromatic percussions, depending to the original score.
- Chamber Ensemble – 5 strings (1.1.1.1.1), flute/piccolo , oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, one percussionist, with extra or optional parts for instruments such as harp, organ, chromatic percussions, depending to the original score.
- Small Ensemble – 4 strings (1.1.1.1.-), flute, oboe, clarinet, with an extra piano part suitable to be played by the conductor (not a vocal score, mostly covers percussions, basses and brasses).
Chamber Orchestra
The score for full Chamber Orchestra allows for more flexibility, with a few additional instruments to cover on- or off-stage orchestras, bands or solos. Page turns for strings are tailored for each individual music stand. With 15 strings, 4 woodwinds, 2 brasses and 1 or 2 percussionists, the balance between the orchestra sections is ideal, and most of the string parts are the original ones.
- PROs – Richer sound, optimal balance between strings and winds, full string parts with tailored page turns.
- CONs – More rehearsing time for the strings, higher cost of production, needs space for 22 players.
Chamber Ensemble
The orchestration for Chamber Ensemble is tailored for a string quintet, with double notes or splitting parts only when possible. Winds and other parts are the same as in the Chamber Orchestra version, this means the balance between strings and the rest of the orchestra will need some adjustment. It is the smallest group with all sections and instruments of the chamber orchestra.
- PROs – Less rehearsing time for strings and lower production costs, needs space for 12 players only.
- CONs – The overall sound needs to be balanced. With only 1 player per music stand, some players will need assistance in turning pages.
Small Ensemble
The score for Small Ensemble is the smallest orchestration without using a vocal score, with still two different and independent sections, strings and woodwinds. Flute, oboe and clarinet parts are different from the previous orchestrations. The piano part covers the parts of the timpani and brasses in the ‘tutti’ or ‘forte’ sections, and is mostly playable with one hand, leaving the conductor with a full free arm for conducting.
- PROs – Good balance between strings and woodwinds, reduced cost of production with 7 players only; needs very little space and rehearsing time. The piano part is not a vocal score, and can be played mostly with one hand by the conductor.
- CONs – The Cello plays the only Bass part, other parts are heavily arranged. With less instrument in the score, and more notes in each part, players will often need assistance in turning pages.
Musical Beam 