A great example of music that does not sound good with changed
instrumentation is Debussy's Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un faune. The solo
flute part in the beginning in particular would sound silly if it were
given to a piano or any other instrument. But it exploits the sound of
a flute playing in its lower range perfectly.
I think perhaps this is why I like Debussy, Mahler and other composers
better than Bach or others. For those to whom orchestration is a part of
the composition, it seems like the music is that much more complete and
more well designed as a result.
M. David Maloney
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