Abstract:
Given the limited skill set and level of musical maturity of community and youth
orchestras, programming for said ensembles is a monumental challenge. Through the
analysis of ensemble challenges and individual part-writing in Beethoven’s First Symphony
and the first movement of Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony, I have constructed a working
document of general guidelines for programming for the youth orchestra and community
orchestra. I found similarities between the two pieces, allowing for some basic
generalizations. Further research is needed for this tool to be useful on a broad spectrum.