Composer’s blog: episode 2 – instrumentation Monday, 2 March 2009

There were lots of decisions to make in a very short space of time! The first choice to make in episode 2 was what instruments to use. I decided to go for cello, flute and percussion.

The cello is a wide-ranging instrument which can produce lots of different textures and I also chose it because I wanted to use at least one instrument in common with episode 1. I decided on the flute as it really complements the cello and its strengths in the high register allowed me to cover a wide range of notes. Finally, I chose percussion as a percussionist can play lots of wonderful instruments for creating rhythms and textures and using these would become an essential part of what I wanted to achieve with the music in episode 2.

[Editor's note: the photo shows Blair in the recording studio earlier today, with Donnie the cellist in the background. Blair's written three more pieces about his work on episode 2; we'll be posting one a day so come back tomorrow to find out more...]