Balance of the Harp

Balance of the Harp In a real orchestral tutti, there’s hardly any chance for the harp to be heard. The only thing that might have a chance to cut through are quite strong and expansive glissandos, but any figuration etc. gets lost already in a mezzoforte tutti. Most...

Finding Thematic Material

Finding Thematic Material Finding the right thematic material and having both parties (you and your customer/director) agree on it can take quite some time. When you present possible themes, it is common today to present them in their best shape as directors very...

Fingers Off the Pan Knob

Fingers off the Pan Knob The standard panning knob (or balance on a stereo signal) works in a way that it simply changes the levels of the right and left channel according to where you set it. Therefore, on stereo signals it only seems to change the direction of the...

Natural Phrasing of Brass Sustains

Natural Phrasing of Brass Sustains Orchestral Brass players will always execute a natural decrescendo on sustained notes unless otherwise indicated by special dynamics. Many sample libraries come with absolutely flat sustains on the brass (in order to be loopable) and...