“A lot of the fun and excitement is provided by the composer’s constant search for new colors, new instruments, new exciting instrumental combinations.” (The Joy of Music, pg. 232)

“Great composers are always looking for new, personal sounds, and to get them they wrote for all kinds of different string combinations.” (The Joy of Music, pg. 67)

The Serenade is written for solo violin and an orchestra of strings, harp and percussion.  This is highly unusual and accounts for some exciting, new, interesting sounds and colors!

What is orchestration?  Bernstein will tell you…