Cheap Orchestration Tricks

[cptexas]

My favorite trick: cut and paste.

Dere ya go!!!

Me too!

[sharma]

For any beginners (like me) out there, I put togehter this excel spreadsheet with some instrument combinations that are listed at the Vienna Symphonic Library website
Its a rather unwieldy spreadsheet but I do refer to it to see if certain intruments will work together nicely. It is zoomed out to 50-you can zoom it to 100% or just click on the cells and read what it says up at the top.
I'm assuming that these combinations are as they say they are, I wouldn't really know.
Tom C

Hi, the link no longer seems to work. I would be interested in seeing your spread sheet. If you still have it and are willing, could you email me at hello@sharmayelverton.com.

Most appreciated, Thanks,

Sharma

[BuddhaMaster]

Hi, the link no longer seems to work. I would be interested in seeing your spread sheet. If you still have it and are willing, could you email me at hello@sharmayelverton.com.

Most appreciated, Thanks,

Sharma

make that two!
I like to have that sheet to. You can still access combinations suggestions by going to each instrument on the website.
I would rather have one complete sheet-
but better reupload it that to give each individual mail adress.

[mcdoma2000]

I still have it. Here is a public link to it: symph.xls

[michael diemer]

Bassoon and flute in double octaves
pizz bass in unison with arco bass (same for cellos)
muted trumpet and eng horn in unison (see Debussy's La Mer, begining)
bassoon or eng horn in unison with cellos or violas
flutes or oboes in unison with violins
clarinets and bassoons in octaves

[Symphonynumbertwo]

And if anyone is interested, i made this PDF file of his spreadsheet:

https://www.box.com/s/xggcryok7ujhl99cx90m

Warning: requires extensive zooming

[ejr]

I am using trem strings over tympani rolls in one place in my score.

Violins I, Violins II, and Violas are voiced as a triads (trem), with a timpani roll on the root (doubled an octave below by the String bass pizz, plucked once at the start of each of the two chords). In other words, the timpani plays what otherwise would have been the cello part.

It turned out to be a nice way to end one section before going into the next without using too many instruments. I wanted the first section to end big -- but not so big as to sound like the end of the piece. I like the way it turned out, though I don't know if this technique will work for other pieces. I suppose it will depend on the mood you are trying to create.