Introduction & Basic Concepts Flashcards
How should we practice? [OTL2}
- Practice skills individually with short exercises
- Write crappy music
- Experiment, try things out!
Always think about… [OTL2}
Sound and effect
What is balance in orchestration, and what isn’t it? [OTL2}
Balance is being able to clearly hear the things that should be heard clearly.
It is NOT about equality.
What are the 3 tools we can use to achieve balance? [OTL2}
- Timbre
- Dynamics
- Movement
What is the concept of grouping? [OTL2}
A layer is often a group of lines that are heard as a unit. It doesn’t have to be a single line.
E.g. Thickening can be a single layer with the line
What are the 3 planes of the scoring stage? [OTL2}
- Vertical - high & low, register
- Depth - distance
- Horizontal - width
What do we hear most prominently in the vertical plane (assuming equal timbre & dynamics)? [OTL2}
The top note
How can we control depth? [OTL2}
Timbre: Bright vs dull
Dynamics: loud vs soft
What are the dull timbres? [OTL2}
FL & CL: low & mid BSN: mid & high FH & TPT: low to mid, < mf TBN: mid, < mf TBA: < mf STR: < mf, tremolando, sul tasto, con sordino DB Soft drums (Timp, bass drum)
What are the bright timbres? [OTL2}
FL: mid to high OB: low to mid CL: High (think Klezmer range) BSN: Low TPT: mid to high FH: High TBN: All registers when loud STR: When loud, sun ponticello
What’s an example of changing the width of a note? [OTL2}
Start with V1, then add V2, Va and VC.
Much wider across the stage.
What is 3D scoring? [OTL2]
Placing bright timbres and loud dynamics directly on top of layers that are duller and softer.
What plane does 3D scoring operate in? [OTL2]
Depth, or Z-depth
The 2 layers can occupy the same vertical space or panning and still be clear with 3D scoring.
What is 3D scoring? [OTL2]
Overlapping layers in the vertical plane, but separating them by using timbre and dynamics.
Melodic motion… [OTL2]
Stands out, regardless of timbre.
How can you use motion to make something stand out? [OTL2]
Faster motion will stand out over slower motion (all else equal), regardless of timbre.
Make it more melodic.
The bigger the discrepancy, the more it will stand out.
If the faster line is in the lower part, will it still stand out? [OTL2]
Yes.
This means you should be careful with contrapuntal basslines etc if you want them to sit back.
What will stand out more, melodic vs non-melodic motion? [OTL2]
Melodic motion will stand out, even if it is slower.
Do the motion and melodic relation to standing out apply to 3D scoring? [OTL2]
Absolutely.
Works for accompaniment crossing a melody AND a melody crossing an accompaniment.
