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Tim Berens, Orchestrator |
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In the late 1990’s, I
was offered the opportunity to learn the craft of orchestration through a
de facto apprenticeship with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
Erich Kunzel, Steven Reineke and Mary Judge trained me.
The education was invaluable.
Orchestrator Highlights
I am an orchestrator, an arranger of music for symphonic orchestras, specializing in arrangements for orchestral pops concerts and symphonic pops orchestration.
My arrangements and pops orchestrations have been played across the country by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, The New York Pops, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and more than 30 other orchestras in venues from Carnegie Hall to the PBS National Memorial Day Concert in Washington D.C. to the Hollywood Bowl. My charts have appeared on Telarc recordings and nationally broadcast PBS specials.
I arrange, orchestrate, copy, and print scores and parts. Erich Kunzel, Steven Reineke and Mary Judge (the orchestra's principal librarian) trained me in the method of writing arrangements and preparing scores and parts that evolved at the Cincinnati Pops during the creation of 90+ recordings. The Cincinnati Pops method results in parts and scores that are player ready, conductor ready, soloist ready, library ready, audience ready and management ready upon delivery.
I understand music, orchestral musicians and the capabilities and limits of their instruments. I recognize the vital importance of producing error-free arrangements -- orchestrations that work the first time at the first rehearsal. I deliver projects on time and on budget.
My arrangements and orchestrations succeed because they respect the original composition and capture the style of music of the composition. Having grown up playing modern popular music and jazz before spending 26 years as Erich Kunzel's guitarist, I have developed a knack for translating popular music styles into arrangements that orchestral musicians understand. I know how to make an orchestra swing or rock or polka or groove like a foot stomping bluegrass band or a sultry Latin band. My years with Erich also taught me that an orchestra's sound can soar above the mountaintops, express lush beauty, or reveal simple truths.
A representative
example of my work is an arrangement of the “Waltz from Up”
which was commissioned by Michael Krajewski and debuted by the Houston
Symphony. For this project, I
watched the movie Up, selected
the portions of music to be used, then transcribed the orchestra score
from the soundtrack recording by ear, scaling it up to full-size orchestra
(triple winds, full brass and percussion) from Hollywood-size orchestra.
I entered the orchestration into Sibelius, formatted and printed the score
and parts, then shipped them to Houston’s library.
The arrangement worked the first time through in rehearsal and was
premiered on February 5, 2010.
In late April 2010, The New York Pops commissioned a last minute arrangement of "Night and Day" for their May 3rd Gala concert at Carnegie Hall. The arrangement was played for the first time at a 1:00 PM rehearsal on May 3, and was performed at 8:00 PM that same day at Carnegie Hall. With no room for mistakes, the arrangement's high-stakes debut performance was a success.
My fees are reasonable. My work is top-shelf.
Click here to
email me about your pops orchestration project or call me at
(937) 862-9111.
Orchestration Project List
The table below lists my professional orchestration projects.
| Piece | Commissioned by | Debut/ Significant Performances |
|
Night and Day |
The
New York Pops/ |
Premiered by Tony DeSare and The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall |
|
Too Marvelous for Words |
The New York Pops/ |
The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall |
| Charade |
The New York Pops/ Steven Reinek |
The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall |
|
Tears in Heaven |
Cincinnati
Pops Orchestra/ |
CPO recording “From the Heart” National Memorial Day Concert on PBS by National Philharmonic Orchestra |
|
Overture for Elvis |
Memphis Symphony Orchestra |
MSO for the 75th birthday celebration of Elvis |
|
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans/ Louisiana 1927 |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
PBS Special “Take Me to the River” featuring Marcia Ball |
|
Love Me or Leave Me |
Steven
Reineke/ |
Los
Angeles Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl. |
|
Come Back to Me |
Steven
Reineke/ |
Los
Angeles Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl. |
|
Birth of the Blues |
Steven
Reineke/ |
Los
Angeles Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl. |
|
What Kind of Fool |
Steven
Reineke/ |
Los
Angeles Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl. |
|
W O M A N |
Steven
Reineke/ |
Los
Angeles Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl. |
|
Waltz from “Up” |
Michael Krajewski |
Houston Symphony Orchestra |
| Sinatra Suite (Fly Me to the Moon, I've Got You Under My Skin, and My Way) | Michael Krajewski | Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra on Wisconsin Public Television |
|
Ashokan Farewell |
The New York Pops |
The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall |
|
House of the Rising Sun |
Michael Krajewski |
Phoenix Symphony |
|
Sweet Little Jesus Boy |
Daniel Narducci |
Narducci’s Recording “Christmas Once More” |
|
Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle |
Daniel Narducci |
Narducci’s Recording “Christmas Once More” |
|
O Holy Night |
Daniel Narducci |
Narducci’s Recording “Christmas Once More” |
|
Joy to the World |
Daniel Narducci |
Narducci’s Recording “Christmas Once More” |
|
Dos Flechas |
Al Sur |
Louisville Orchestra |
|
Madura |
Al Sur |
Louisville Orchestra |
|
Los Alamos |
Al Sur |
Louisville Orchestra |
|
Dream Girls |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra featuring Bootsy Collins |
|
Cadillac Car |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra featuring Bootsy Collins |
|
Fake Your Way to the Top |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra featuring Bootsy Collins |
|
Move |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra featuring Bootsy Collins |
|
Hard to Say Goodbye |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra featuring Bootsy Collins |
|
No Se Como Decir |
Naples Philharmonic Orchestra/Erich Kunzel |
Naples Philharmonic Orchestra on PBS Special “Fiesta at the Philharmonic” featuring Nestor Torres. |
|
Caravan |
Tim Berens |
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra |
|
Blackbird |
Tim Berens |
Windsor Symphony Orchestra |
|
Birdland |
Tim Berens |
Windsor Symphony Orchestra |
|
Spain |
Tim Berens |
Windsor Symphony Orchestra |
|
Lakme |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
CPO Recording “The Dance” |
|
Borodin:
Music Popularized in Kismet |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
CPO Recording “Bolero: Music of Ravel, Borodin and Bizet” |
|
Greatest Show on Earth (copy job) |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra |
|
Suite from “From Here to Eternity” |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra |
|
Stevie Wonder Medley |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra |
|
The Climb |
Ron Davis |
Studio Orchestra |
|
Thomachonga |
Ron Davis |
Windsor Symphony Orchestra |
|
Alleluia |
Ron Davis |
Windsor Symphony Orchestra |
|
Rhythmaron |
Ron Davis |
Windsor Symphony Orchestra |
|
Macho Man |
Symphonic Pops Consortium/Jack Everly |
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra |
|
Mamma Mia |
Symphonic Pops Consortium/Jack Everly |
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra |
|
American Pie |
Symphonic Pops Consortium/Jack Everly |
|
|
This Land is Your Land |
Cincinnati
Pops Orchestra/ |
Comet Bluegrass Band with CPO |
|
Ashokan Farewell |
Cincinnati
Pops Orchestra/ |
Comet Bluegrass Band with CPO |
|
I Shot the Sheriff |
Cincinnati
Pops Orchestra/ |
Comet Bluegrass Band with CPO |
|
Dancing Through Life |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
CPO. |
|
Welcome to the 60s |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
CPO. |
|
Grease Medley |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
CPO. |
|
High School Musical Medley |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
CPO. |
|
Dirty Dancing Medley |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
CPO. |
|
Footloose Medley |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
CPO. |
|
We’re All in This Together |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
CPO. |
|
Fame |
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra/ Erich Kunzel |
CPO. |
|
Christmas Medley 1 |
Toyota Motor Corporation |
Toyota Trumpet Playing Robot with Erich Kunzel and the CPO |
|
Christmas Medley 2 |
Toyota Motor Corporation |
Toyota Trumpet Playing Robot with Erich Kunzel and the CPO |
|
Irving Berlin’s America |
Symphonic Pops Consortium/Jack Everly |
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra |
|
YMCA |
Erich Kunzel |
|
|
It’s Grand |
Windsor Symphony Orchestra |
Jody Raffoul with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra |
| Christmas Wish | Steve Morgan | Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra |
|
I
Remember You |
The New York Pops |
The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall featuring Michael Feinstein |
|
I Wanna Be Around/Goody Goody (copy job) |
The New York Pops |
The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall featuring Michael Feinstein |
|
Something’s Gotta Give (copy job) |
The New York Pops |
The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall featuring Michael Feinstein |
© 2002 - 2010, Tim Berens
All rights reserved