Popular Choral Works with Reduced Scoring in the Orchestral Parts

Customer Feedback

When hiring out sets of parts and scores, I have never asked for feedback. Some people put a note in with the music when they return it or they send me an email describing how their performance went.

Here are some of the comments sent to me.

The arrangement worked superbly and the concert was a huge success - enjoyed by performers and audience alike.
I would recommend this version particularly to smaller, budget conscious choral societies.
Nick Austin - Stanmore Choral Society

The concert was, in my view, one of the best we have ever performed, and I have been in the choir for over 30 years. I cannot remember a time when the audience gave us a standing ovation, as they did on Saturday.
Rilla Paterson, Stanmore Choral Society

Many thanks. Your orchestration was a great success for us. I am heartily recommending it to others!
Tina Guthrie, Crediton Chorale

I thought I would let you know that we had our first rehearsals with the orchestra yesterday in preparation for this weekend's performances of The Creation. They were, in a word, splendid. Our tenor soloist has sung the work many, many times. He was particularly impressed: he said to me after the rehearsal, "I like this! Nothing seems missing, and the balances are a LOT better!" He especially liked your elegant solution for the flute trio in Part III. You have done a wonderful job, and we are all very grateful for the opportunity to do the work in this excellent version. Thanks, and congratulations!
David Schildkret - Music Director, Mount Desert Summer Chorale, Bar Harbor, ME

The concert went well and the audience really appreciated the balance between the orchestra and the choir that your reduced orchestration helped us achieve.
Gary Brook, Potters Bar Choral Society

I am just packing the scores of Creation up after the concert last night. What a wonderful arrangement!! Thanks so much for all your work with it - it works so well.
Adrian Griffiths, St Peter's Singers, Wirral

Just to let you know that I have today posted the Haydn Creation orchestral scores back to you. Your arrangement worked well and our concert was very successful - the best we have ever sung from what people were saying.
Elizabeth Twining, Axminster and District Choral Society

The concert went well and the choir and orchestra were both grateful for your reduction. It improved the experience for everyone: the choir didn't have to work to be heard, and the orchestra were able to play in a natural and relaxed manner - without having to constantly worry about balance. We shall certainly be contacting you in the future!
Peter Dyson, English Chamber Choir / Belmont Ensemble of London

I thought you and any potential customers might be interested to learn that Arnside Choral Society (membership of 42) performed this (Haydn's Creation) to great acclaim using 1 per part including the strings. Whilst I would have preferred at least 3 violins and violas per part (space and money meant we couldn't) it nevertheless worked extremely well allowing the choral parts to be prominent. Naturally you have to be very selective over your choice of instrumentalists, though! As you've doubtless heard many times, I've had several comments praising the balance between orchestra and choir and I will certainly endorse your arrangement and indeed use it for future performances.
Ian Allan, Conductor, Arnside Choral Society

Our performance (of Haydn's Creation) was a great success (choir on good form, lovely young soloists from Trinity and a good selection of local players in the band - particularly tight wind section) and possibly because of your reduced orchestration. We have neither the budget nor the space for Haydn's full layout and an orchestra of that size would have been a bit much for the choir too. We loved your clever and effective re-scoring and it certainly kept the players from getting bored; I don't think anyone would have known it from the original, to be honest. I also appreciated the clarity of the score itself and the troops noted the thought you've put into page turns. I shall be keeping an eye on your web site to see what is added to the catalogue.
Ellis Bell, Halstead Choral Society

Herewith the music after our performance of Creation last evening. This is a wonderful setting - congratulations! We used absolute minimum forces, literally one per part so the orchestra of 13 (we did use harpsichord continuo for the recits) was an extremely well balanced band for our choir of 33 singers. We look forward to using some of your other reductions in the future.
Andrew Slater, Una Voce, West Hoathly

Many thanks for the scores. They were clearly voted a great success. We, of necessity, only have a relatively small venue so reduced orchestra size is necessary. The opportunity to do Elijah this way was much appreciated!
Ian Jones, Eversley Choir