> Hello,

> I am a composer myself. I beleive a composer should orchestrate their own
> music. Why can't Danny Elfman Orchestrate his own music? Bernard Herrman
> sure did not.

> Thank you

Whether your name is Danny Elfman or John Williams, there are only so many hours in the day and even the most brilliant of composers simply can't do it all!

Try asking the owner of a restaurant to seat customers,take orders, tend bar,prep food, cook food,serve food, bus tables, wash dishes and so on. That's why he or she hires *help*!

"Orchestration" at stage two of the proceedings, means that the composers "sketch" is being expanded into parts for each and every player in the orchestra. Stage One is the 10-12 stave sketch that the composer comes up with to guide the orchestrator as to HOW it should sound , in the end result.

Having a degree or a formal education in composing/classical/ or orchestration is NOT a prerequisite for a job as a soundtrack composer. John Williams went through higher education-Danny Elfman played in Oingo Boingo BUT at the very least, Mr. Elfman IS a musician- and he has imagination!

When YOU yourself do a Stage One Sketch, YOU and YOU alone have already determined HOW your music is going to, ( or should ) sound, when it is played by the orchestra. "Orchestration" per se, is just making sure that EVERYONE in the orchestra winds up with a piece of music!