# What is the most complicated piece of music written, for multiple instruments, which could be played by the composer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [July 31, 2021, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707 "2021-07-31T14:24:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/21 "2021-08-01T05:53:06Z")
Gonna say for purposes of this thread, even if you can sing the soprano portion in your lovely, rich, baritone, that still doesn’t make you a soprano. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/22 "2021-08-01T06:07:18Z")
You don’t include voice parts he _used to be_ able to sing when he was 12?  😀 ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/23 "2021-08-01T06:51:19Z")
Here’s a extract of an exquisite choral piece by Bach for double choir (8 parts) and organ: > **[Komm, Jesu, komm, BWV 229 (extract).mp3](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qh8d9a1xIrWtME_mFmeyBWv2pH71emcN/view?usp=sharing)** > > Google Drive file. Two short sections from a larger piece:       **Komm, ich will mich dir ergeben** (Come, I will give myself to you)       **Du bist der rechte Weg, die Wahrheit und das Leben** (You are the right path, the truth and life)   If you can manage to overlook the religious sentiments, it’s a beautiful piece. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/24 "2021-08-01T14:24:36Z")
Todd’s “Hermit of Mink Hollow” is another album where he wrote, arranged, produced, and performed the entire thing by himself. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/25 "2021-08-01T14:27:01Z")
_ **The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect** _ is another. ETA: I’m a big fan. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/26 "2021-08-01T15:05:02Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Gonna say for purposes of this thread, even if you can sing the soprano portion in your lovely, rich, baritone, that still doesn’t make you a soprano. So we can rule out Mozart singing the “Queen of the Night” aria, accompanied by piano quartet. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/27 "2021-08-01T15:19:27Z")
Lol, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/28 "2021-08-01T17:03:21Z")
> [@Bootb](#): > > The Bach family was quite possibly the most overall talented family in history; certainly in the top 3. > [@jaycat](#): > > Right up there with the Wiggin family. Came here to post those two points in that sequence. ::darn! snapping fingers emoji:: Known more as a performer than composer, Niccolo Paganini could just _tear_ though stuff, like his [24 caprices.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8j1x3pTOyo) Liszt wasn’t too much of a slouch either. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2021, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/29 "2021-08-01T23:50:51Z")
Yeah, but now we’re getting away from the “for multiple instruments” stipulation. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/30 "2021-08-02T00:08:22Z")
Indeed, noted - my two don’t fit the OP. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/31 "2021-08-02T00:14:55Z")
The OP appreciates all links Paganini. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2021, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/32 "2021-08-02T17:40:20Z")
AFAIK, Paganini didn’t play any instruments beside violin (and by extension, viola). He composed duets with guitar and with bassoon, but I haven’t seen evidence that he played either. At any rate, he was no Mozart. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/33 "2021-11-06T14:04:42Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > So he could play piano quartets, the most complicated being the one in E-flat, K 493. Haven’t really explored his piano quartets, thank you for this - it’s been an enjoyable journey. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2021, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707/34 "2021-11-07T13:47:02Z")
As far as 70’s rockers go, Roy Wood made some pretty complicated music, performed everything himself and played a vast array of instruments, including many from the classical scene: vocals, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards, but also cello, bassoon, flute, clarinet, oboe, French horn, mandolin, bouzouki, recorders, bagpipes and double bass. I think Roy Wood is the champion in his own class, judging “most complicated” notwithstanding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-complicated-piece-of-music-written-for-multiple-instruments-which-could-be-played-by-the-composer/947707.md?page=1)