Orchestration Project with Redbanned members (Update 1.st post)

Hi Guys,

The recent months and weeks I thought if it would be a possible idea if that we all could work together on something and share our results here, discuss them and learn from each other. The workflow could be the following:
1. Someone composes on Piano a simple 2 handed playable short piece. Let´s say..30 seconds.
2. Then he or she will provide the download for the midi of the Piano for everyone here
3. We all orchestrate that 30 second Piano to orchestra.
4. The results will be uploaded on a shared folder on Dropbox which we all have access.
5. Then we present our ideas, discuss them, and speak about what was easy and not, what translated well to the orchestra or not etc etc. I think we could learn a lot.
5. After that procedure another composer can chime in and write a short piece which then we orchestrate in another session.

There is no pressure or basic rule like how often we practise that. It is up to everyones time schedule of course but I would recommend at least to do it once a month.
Everyone single one of is free to decide how he orchestrates the track. THere is no right or wrong. I thought this could be a great idea for us so that we can improve both our writing and orchestration skills.

What do you think guys? I have started a short piece for this exercises and I orchestrated a few bars...which is still not really finished. But if you like the idea and concept, I would then tomorrow prepare the midi data and files for you for download.
Please let me know if there is general interest into such things.


UPDATE: I have made a list and commissioned everything together as I think it is easier to find. So the list is the following:

1. Polychordal Deep Space
2. Fanfare for a Man
3. Homeride

Here are the links to the download of all the midi 2 Handed Piano Arrangements:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7rtmkjxf0v8oac0/AAAwunTfaVU3txT6EiH5Z2Fwa?dl=0

 

Great, I will go and prepare the download stuff then.Short question: any idea for a good shared folder concept where every single one of us can upload / download / edit the stuff? Dropbox is possible, but therefore I need all of your emails to invite you. If you like the idea, sure I could do that (just sent me your mail in a pm) or..if somebody has cooler and more efficient idea let me know.

Here is the DL Link:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7rtmkjxf0v8oac0/AAAwunTfaVU3txT6EiH5Z2Fwa?dl=0

There are 2 files: Mp3 for reference (if you like or need), 2 Hand Split midi file. One side note: I didn´t write the sketch to a click track. But sure if you like you can use my performed tempo just as a general guideline, but you can fit it to the cubase or pro tools click very easily.

@Mike Verta

Yes, it is all built in ambience only and no additional effects like delays or reverb plugins. Maybe..it is the postprocessing with eq which you probably find strange?

Here is an unprocessed version without eq:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s0ejf1du4l5in15/Alexander_Schiborr_Polychordal_Deep_Space_no_eq.mp3?dl=0

Anyways: If you have questions or if there is something where you dont know how to do it, you are welcome to ask.

 

Spitfire symphonic brass

 

Very cool, scott. Ia m going tomorrow to check it out and will come back with some detailed briefing.actually heading to bed,so

 

Hi Scott. Just had my morning coffee and just listened a couple times to your rendition. Before I go and comment, I would like to know a few things:

1. How long did that take you to create?
2. What difficulties you had? Where there things for you which were easy or hard to do?

Best,
Alex

 

So here are my thoughts:

Part 1 (1 seconds - 11 seconds): I like the beginning with the brass focus and how you hand over the voices to the higher strings (until 11 seconds). Thats cool and definitely a way how it can be done. Maybe..you could think also about woodwinds to hand over the voices? The contrabassoon at the end takes me a bit off, but I guess thats not your fault here. A short explanation: Those 3-4 very deep notes on the piano were just played for maintaining a pulse and meter so that I know when to start with the next section.
Part 2 ( 12 seconds - 22 seconds)
Here you use a mix of strings and brass. While you can do that, I would probably use a slight color change with more weight on the strings / woods because the whole beginning was so brass focusses I would think it is nice to have here a color change maybe? That is at least my thought. A little side note: The choir is for me very out of context. What was your intention with the choir? It seems you wanted to use it for harmony here.
Part 3 (22 seconds 32 seconds)
I think the choir lines clouds a lot the main line. It is imo here a dynamic and mixing problem. But it is hard for me to hear where the main line is intended. Those shorts on the trombones(?) are also very distracting. Rather than using all of the orchestra again, I would probably simplify the one or other part, maybe the first part at 22 seconds - 26 seconds can be very focussed on a few elements. By reducing you would have a nice contrast to your previous sections?
32 seconds - End: I like that you change to your strings more, but again: That choir..you should take a look at that.

In general I would say it is good start for a beginner here. My main obversavation what imo you should a bit work on:

- more contrast in colors
- Use more woodwinds (Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Clarinette), also melodic percussion (I barely heard any of both)
- check your levels and mixing (see choir)
- try to make a plan before and go listen a couple of times through the piece and thinking what your mainline (your melody) should be like in every part? Do you want a clear color or a mixed color? It feels that it was not so clear where to move your voices.

Just let me know if you have questions.

 

ok, guys, I am so far finished, did some few revisions. Overall some things werent not that hard I find, but others didn´t went so easy, probably because of sample limitations, at least sometimes. I did a screencast for it and would provide more infos.
My intention was to work with contrasts in orchestrations as I felt that my idea is pretty "simple" and also repetitive I needed to switch voices forth and back with change in colors as well to keep the thing "alive" or "interesting".
The most difficult thing was this second part starting at 15 seconds where the piano absolutely doesn´t well translate to the orchestration or the samples, I had really some struggle there to decide what orchestral instrument to use for this melody..not because I don´t know the ranges, and what works there, but asthetically it was hard to decide. One thing was clear: Not again some brass, because my whole intro section was brass driven and I wanted a contrast there. Anyways..just take the tour until 56 seconds.

If you have questions or better suggestions, I am happy and thankful.

I am looking of course for more of your own renditions.
Thank you!

 

Hey Scott, Yeah Samples are very limited to real orchestra and if sonusscore orch is the only library for orchestral music you have then this is even more difficult. the only thing I would suggest to spent a bit more time with it..10 minutes is probably too less..
Regarding your questions how to layer, especially when you are a beginner try to make simple orchestrations, think of three things:

1. Melody
2. Chords
3. Bass

When you start orchestrating think about where is your main focus? Normally that is the melody or it can be also a rhythmic figur. Now ...think about what instruments in the orchestra could be suitable to use for the melody or the mainfocus. A melody written on c5 range wouldn´t be suitable to play by french horns. So here you need to learn and to get to know the typical meat ranges of the orchestral instruments and how they sound in their range.
An Example: In the intro bars I decided to use mainly brass instruments because look I wrote this few chords: They are rhythmic and have a kind of "fanfarish" touch to it. So..to this kind of stuf..brass translates excellent. And in that mid range there..there comes in mind: French Horns / Trombones and for the higher repeatition the trumpets. Sure..it is possible to use also other instruments there. Like Violas and Violins but..they don´t translate well to the style of what I have written. But technically it would work also. So here you see: It is a matter of style and choice and also don´t look only at one part isolated. See the parts after and before. Because those define your orchestration as well. But first I would say: Try to repeat and work the things I mentioned.

 

Sounds great, looking forward to your rendition.