• First orchestral song
    7 replies, posted
I recorded this a long time ago and my friend told me to put it here, so here it is. I've been planning on redoing it (you can probably tell there are some missed keys, mistimed notes, etc), just haven't gotten around to it. I think it turned out pretty well for my first attempt at a virtual orchestra. [media]http://soundcloud.com/shadowndacorner/cloudy-dawn-full-orchestra[/media]
Reminds me of Philip Glass in some respects. The intro though was nice, although I personally would've taken it else where after that, but every composer is different.
Good job! If you're writing for a full orchestra try to change up the color of the piece. Strings and piano are nice, but woodwinds, percussion, and brass can all create fantastic sounds. Also, you want to be thinking about what's realistic for the performers, as playing pizzicato strings that fast and for that amount of time is impossible without switching it up instrumentally. (To get around this, every other note could be taken by the second violins, but then you would be absent of both violin sections to create the high sustained strings - maybe use viola?) While yes, it is a virtual orchestra, it will sound much more realistic if the 'instrumentalists' are playing things that real orchestras can play. As far as the composition goes, it was focused on harmonic changes. Harmonies are nice, but if you're going to be focusing on them, try to create harmonies that are not often heard. Considering putting in a definite melody that evolves over time, or perhaps getting rid of harmony at different points by writing unison parts or focusing on a soloist. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3jMXY7OuU0[/media] This is a younger work from Rachmaninov, but it's beautifully orchestrated and illustrates some of the things I mentioned. Notice he starts off with no harmony - just the double basses playing single notes. Sometimes a bassoon comes in, but it's on the same note, keeping the unison. Finally, we get harmony in the form of very soft tremolo violins. This harmony is not diatonic (in key), but rather steps up chromatically giving us something that isn't to be heard as often. The horn and bassoon foreshadow the main theme before it jumps in with the flute over light strings. This entire piece is really worth listening to. I also recommend listening to Brahms and Beethoven for how they orchestrate and develop their ideas. Brahms' Symphonies are amazing, and his orchestra work with his concertos (especially his [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5fVeRC0XNs]Double Concerto for Violin and Cello[/url]) is top notch. Beethoven's Symphonies are similarly great, especially his third: [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lWambh7tXA]Eroica[/url].
[QUOTE=Schmoe222;38563490]Good job! If you're writing for a full orchestra try to change up the color of the piece. Strings and piano are nice, but woodwinds, percussion, and brass can all create fantastic sounds. Also, you want to be thinking about what's realistic for the performers, as playing pizzicato strings that fast and for that amount of time is impossible without switching it up instrumentally. (To get around this, every other note could be taken by the second violins, but then you would be absent of both violin sections to create the high sustained strings - maybe use viola?) While yes, it is a virtual orchestra, it will sound much more realistic if the 'instrumentalists' are playing things that real orchestras can play. As far as the composition goes, it was focused on harmonic changes. Harmonies are nice, but if you're going to be focusing on them, try to create harmonies that are not often heard. Considering putting in a definite melody that evolves over time, or perhaps getting rid of harmony at different points by writing unison parts or focusing on a soloist. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3jMXY7OuU0[/media] This is a younger work from Rachmaninov, but it's beautifully orchestrated and illustrates some of the things I mentioned. Notice he starts off with no harmony - just the double basses playing single notes. Sometimes a bassoon comes in, but it's on the same note, keeping the unison. Finally, we get harmony in the form of very soft tremolo violins. This harmony is not diatonic (in key), but rather steps up chromatically giving us something that isn't to be heard as often. The horn and bassoon foreshadow the main theme before it jumps in with the flute over light strings. This entire piece is really worth listening to. I also recommend listening to Brahms and Beethoven for how they orchestrate and develop their ideas. Brahms' Symphonies are amazing, and his orchestra work with his concertos (especially his [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5fVeRC0XNs]Double Concerto for Violin and Cello[/url]) is top notch. Beethoven's Symphonies are similarly great, especially his third: [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lWambh7tXA]Eroica[/url].[/QUOTE] Wow, thanks for this! I've never actually taken music lessons (aside from guitar, which sort of counts here), so any shred of criticism is much appreciated, and this is way more than a shred :P. I'll try to keep all of that in mind for the future. Also, how do they do pizzzicato strings? I figured it was like palm muting.
[QUOTE=shadowndacorner;38564292]Wow, thanks for this! I've never actually taken music lessons (aside from guitar, which sort of counts here), so any shred of criticism is much appreciated, and this is way more than a shred :P. I'll try to keep all of that in mind for the future. Also, how do they do pizzzicato strings? I figured it was like palm muting.[/QUOTE] No problem! It's a lot to think of, though, and in my experience the best thing you can do is to have fun with it and try to do things you haven't done before in each new piece. Listening to different types of music will also help, from classical to film. (The Lord of the Rings soundtrack is amazing and beautifully written.) Pizzicato strings are basically plucked strings. The player will finger the note and then, with their bowing hand, pluck the string. Another technique that you might be interested in is tremolo. With this, the player will move the bow back and forth very fast across the string creating a kind of shimmering sound. It's what you hear at the beginning of the Rachmaninov piece in the quiet violins. If you need me to clarify anything else or have any other questions, just let me know. Good job again, though - it's great for your first orchestral piece!
schmoe knows a fuckton more than me about composing, but that was really well done. often when i see orchestral arrangements on facepunch people fail to grasp the concept that electronic orchestral arrangements were not meant to be EDM tunes trying to imitate sounds with that robotic lack of color EDM tunes have. in short, this sounds sweet and you pulled the instruments off really well.
What for virtual plugins do you use to make orchestra?
[QUOTE=snijboer;38566464]What for virtual plugins do you use to make orchestra?[/QUOTE] EastWest Symphonic Orchestra, Vienna Symphonic Library, Komplete, Spitfire, Albion, and many other sample packs include orchestral sections. Some of them are geared towards different purposes, with EastWest and Albion in particular being better suited to film scoring. My favorite is Vienna, though it's the most expensive. It gives the most realistic orchestra sound and is best suited to classical and art music. Since all of these are really expensive (Vienna's full package is $13,000), I recommend you search around for some free VSTs unless you really, really want one of the more well known packs. A good free pack for strings is Intimate Strings Lite: [url]http://www.embertone.com/freebies/intstrings-lite.php[/url] I also did a bit of research and came up with this, which sounds decent: [url]http://sso.mattiaswestlund.net/[/url] There's also DSK Oveture: [url]http://www.dskmusic.com/dsk-overture/[/url]
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