The standard, accepted order of instrumentation for large ensembles: fl.ob.cl.bsn - hn.tpt.trbn.tba - perc - other - vlnI.vlnII.vla.vlc.db - tape, or electronics. Saxophones appear between clarinet and bassoon.
All other scorings (less than 8 instruments) are listed in full.
When an instrument is listed in parentheses, then this instrument is doubled. "guitar (=electric guitar)" means that the guitarist plays an acoustic, as well as an electric guitar. In an orchestral setting, "1(I=picc).2(II=corA).2(II=bcl).1" would resolve to: 1 flute (also playing piccolo), 2 oboes (second oboe also playing cor anglais), 2 clarinets (second clarinet also playing bass clarinet), 1 bassoon. If there is an extra instrument, which is not doubled, then this is expressly written out, e.g. "1(I=picc).2.corA.2.bcl.1.dbn", which unravels to: 1 flute (also playing piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, 1 bassoon, 1 double bassoon.
Solo instruments in a concerto or chamber setting are written out in front of the ensemble instruments: guitar - 1.1.1.1 - 1.0.0.0 - perc - strgs.
Genre
Stage Work
Text/Libretto
Nicolaas Witsen, David Gorlaeus, Hadewych, Willem Kloos, Madame Curie (in Dutch)
Commission
Fund for the Creation of Music, Amsterdam
Premiere
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Muziektheater, 1 June 1989: James Doing, Tenor / Wendy Hill, soprano / Marjon Brandsma, speaker / Netherlands Chamber Choir / 'Materie Orkest', Reinbert de Leeuw (cond.)/ Robert Wilson (staging)
The instrumentation for the four movements varies quite radically. For instance, in "De Stijl" the flutes and saxophones are the only woodwind instruments that play; as well, the strings are tacet in that movement.
Source
Boosey & Hawkes website;
Recordings
Performers
Title
Label
Year
James Doing, tenor / Susan Narucki, soprano / Gertrude Thoma, Cindy Oswin, declamation / Members of The Netherlands Chamber Choir / Asko & Schönberg Ensemble, Reinbert de Leeuw (cond.)
