Hmmm...maybe I should concentrate on working with choral works. I haven't thus far because I absolutely blow chunks in writing lyrics and I can't find any poems I want to use. Still, that's me just being lazy, I suppose.
One of the best lessons in simple orchestration came from someone (I think it was on this forum, but I could be wrong) completely blasting my efforts because I did not understand the techniques of contrary motion. Oh, sure, I'd learned the idea in Music Theory, but the ability to apply it in a large ensemble setting eluded me...and, to be honest, I was making absolutely zero effort to pay attention to Music Theory rules. But whoever it was that blasted me really got me to LISTEN to the orchestral works I enjoy and pick them apart to find out WHY I enjoy them so much. And suddenly, like magic, I got the idea.
I still make mistakes when orchestrating contrary motion, but at least now I am aware of the issue, and not just being insanely insistent that my crap has absolutely no smell whatsoever!
