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.
