Debussy, "La Mer", Sibelius/Noteperformer virtual performance video score

Created using Sibelius music notation software (Version 7.1.3 First) and the Noteperformer 3 sounds engine.

The Sibelius Mixer allows only one setting per file, so I did the best I could to obtain a reasonable balance between instrument volumes. In addition I used hidden dynamics (~f, ~p etc) to increase/decrease volume, and also the midi ensemble message to increase the notional number of solo instruments for example, ~C104,4 on the Horn stave should sound like 4 Horns. Even so, it's sometimes difficult to get it right everywhere, for example the Harps have ended up quite loud, but it's nice to hear them, so often they are drowned out.

The score includes several transposing instruments not available in this version of Sibelius, notably Trumpets in F so instead I used Trumpets in C, with appropriate transpositions. There are parts for both A and Bb Clarinets, sometimes using non-standard transpositions. I 'played' them all on the Bb Clarinet stave: I hope I have got all the transpositions right.

The Tam Tam is represented by the Gong Ageng from World Instruments.

This version of Sibelius only allows a maximum of 16 staves, so in order to include (almost) all instruments, I have merged divisi parts onto single staves using Sibelius' Voices most notably Horns I-IV, and the "4x4=16 violoncellos" (!) in the first movement . I added key passages on Cor Anglais,, Cornets, Contrabassoon and Tuba to the related instrument (Oboe, Bassoon, Trumpet, Trombone), for example, the Cornets in the final movement. Having run out of space, I even moved short passages on the Cornets to the Trombone stave, the Glockenspiel to the Oboe stave, and shuffled parts between the various strings to allow pizzicato passages, which cannot share with arco on the same stave.

I created separate Sibelius files for each movement, to allow an appropriate mix of instruments for each, and then merged the 3 videos into a single MP4. All notes were entered 'by hand', and it is a work of great harmonic and rhythmic complexity, so please forgive any errors.

I have placed 'Chapter' breaks at the three 'movements'.

For many more pieces (Rachmaninov, Beethoven, Mahler, Strauss and more) see my playlist    • Classical pieces realised using Sibel...  

00:00 I: De l'aube a midi sur la mer
07:16 II: Jeux de vagues
13:12 III: Dialogue du vent et de la mer