Orchestration Standard Rules

ORCHESTRATION STANDARD RULES One of the biggest misconceptions about orchestration is that people who just start to learn it think there is a definite set of rules to follow like “If situation x then always do y.” There are no such things as “Top orchestration...

Over-Orchestration

OVER-ORchestration Even though you have a lot of instruments at your fingertips when writing for orchestra, that doesn’t mean they have to be all in use all the time. A lot of inexperienced composers and orchestrators often “over-orchestrate” staying for long in a...

“Real Orchestra” Problems

“Real Orchestra” Problems Coming from a sampling background, many young composers are surprised about what main problems usually arise in “real orchestra” recordings that are practically non-existent in the sample world. When recording a real ensemble, the...

Scale Run Structures

Scale Run Structures When writing runs for any instrument that is capable of playing runs, you should stick to plausible scales. Instrumentalists practice their whole life to play scale runs in any form – upwards, downwards, starting on different scale degrees etc....

Optimal Range for Timpani

Optimal Range for Timpani Timpani sound best between the f below middle c and the f one octave lower. Even though their range exceeds that limit, in the very lowest register the membrane needs to lose so much tension that the sound gets muddy and unfocussed....