What does the term "orchestration" refer to in music composition?

The term "orchestration" specifically refers to the process of arranging music for performance by an orchestra. This involves selecting which instruments will play which parts of the music and determining how those instruments will interact with each other to create a cohesive and pleasing sound. Orchestrators take a piece of music, which may be composed for piano or voice, and translate that into a version suitable for an orchestra, considering timbre, range, and the strengths of different instruments.

This is a critical skill in the field of music, especially in symphonic and cinematic contexts, where the goal is to maximize the expressive possibilities of the orchestral palette. By doing so, orchestrators can enhance the emotional depth and overall impact of the music. This distinguishes orchestration from other aspects of music creation, such as lyric writing, music history, or teaching methods, which focus on different facets of music and its performance.