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order of instruments

hello to everyone. I am arranging a piece for my class to play but I am unsure as to the order of the instruments when scoring them. I know that it would go flute, oboe, clarinet but for the others (alto sax, tenor sax, barri sax, trumpet, trombone, euphonium) i'm not sure how to arrange them. I'd appretiate any help you could give me. Thanks :o)

Re: order of instruments

Reply #1 –
Score order for a full American symphonic/concert band would be:

-Piccolo
-Flute
-Oboe
-Bassoon
-B flat Clarinet
-Alto Clarinet
-Bass Clarinet
-Contralto Clarinet (if used)
-Contrabass Clarinet (if used)
-Soprano Saxophone (if used)
-Alto Saxophone
-Tenor Saxophone
-Baritone Saxophone
-Cornet or Trumpet (in some cases, there are three Cornet parts, followed by 2 Trumpet parts, in others, just 3 Trumpet parts)
-Horn
-Trombone
-Baritone/Euphonium
-Tubas and/or Basses/String Bass
-Percussion (usually melodic percussion first)

"See https://forum.noteworthycomposer.com/?topic=1301" for a bit more discussion.

Re: order of instruments

Reply #2 –
In fact, the order on the score as well as the placement on the stage fully depends on the composer's or in some cases performers' preference. Actually, the common practice have also changed through time. For instance, in the Baroque era, "German style" was common in which the first and second violins were placed right and left wings to obtain a stereo effect, the Violas were in the middle (Bach is said to have commented on why he liked playing Viola that he preferred to be in the middle of harmony), the continuous bass consisting of Viola da Gamba and Harpsicord in the back-most middle and finally the winds (if exist) in front of the bass.

Speaking of the score order, the following classification has been general through the Classical and Romantic times:

1)Woodwinds (Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, Bassoon), from the highest to the bass with the exception of Oboe and Clarinet latter of which is more effective higher than the prior (unless it's Bass [A] clarinet)

2)Brass (French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophones, Tuba)

3)Timpani

4)Other pitched percussion such as Marimba, Xylophone

5)Percussion without pitch such as cymbals, bass drum

6)Piano (Identical. May be placed anywhere else after the winds or before the strings)

7) Harp, Celesta (may be placed within pitched perc.)

8)Strings (Violins I&II, Violas, Violoncellos, Doublebasses)

HTH

Re: order of instruments

Reply #3 –
thank you both for your replies, I really really appretiate the effort you put in and it answers my questions perfectly. Thanks again.
 

Re: order of instruments

Reply #4 –
I you're the conductor, arrange them the way *you* feel
most comfortable with. Tradition is all very well, but it's
not compulsory.

If you're not the conductor, start with one of the
suggestions here (though I'm not sure I like the idea of
saxophones between trombone and tuba as suggested in reply
2 - seems highly unnatural!).

Ask the conductor that if they're happy with the order.
If not, ask them what they'd like. It's then a simple task
for you to print a score in any order they want.