Hello everyone, I am a musician pondering an unusual project, I just wanted to post here and see if anyone had any advice for me.

I have had experience playing numerous instruments in the past, and have been quick to learn others. My idea is to record a piece for symphonic band, recording one instrument at a time and playing all the parts myself. I was wondering:
a. Has this been done/attempted before? And if so, what were the results?
b. I would soon need to consider what piece to record. I would prefer something around a grade 2 or 3; something interesting musically while relatively simple to get my fingers around (especially for the instruments I would be learning on the fly). I am predominantly a brass player; a piece with more difficult brass parts would be ok. I would also prefer a piece with full instrumentation (i.e. no single trombone/baritone/bassoon part, no single clarinet part). If anyone has any recommendations as to a suitable piece (and where I might be able to hear it) I would be most grateful.
c. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to find instruments? On ebay I have seen what appear to be great bargains on new “no-name” instruments; are these something I should stay away from? What about a source for used instruments? For the more obscure things (such as low woodwinds) I would look into borrowing; do music stores typically rent instruments like this out? (For example, would I be able to walk into a store and rent a bari sax for a week?)

If anyone has thoughts or advice for me, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks

Do it all on the computer!

Get a copy of Cakewalk Music Creator and you can input the sounds a variety of ways, convert them into different instruments, print the notation, and so on! It multitracks as well - it may take you a whiley to learn how to use it though, it's a complicated piece of software!

I'm not sure I answered your question though! It sounds like a very involved, complicated project, good luck with it!

BTW, yu can hire instruments for a week or so, usually from music stores who are hoping you'll buy one!