Deciphering Music & Orchestration

[Shahin]

Hey guys.

I thought this might be a good thread to ask others who are potentially better at Orchestration to help break apart a piece of music so we can learn the techniques and be able to use them in our own music.

I have two samples that I'd like some help with--both in understanding what's going on Musically as well as being able to reproduce it through samples. The first example is from Bear McCreary's score for Battlestar Galactica. Can anyone help me figure out exactly what's going on here? It occurs at about 0:25-0:30 of this clip. It sounds like a lot of dissonance resolving suddenly (and somewhat brilliantly).

Secondly, this is something that I've heard in many different scores (primarily in Film Music). This is a short excerpt from one of the tracks off of The Dark Knight, and the part that I'm referring to is something that sounds as though it's coming from a Violin, playing almost random erratic high pitches noises. I've seen it often used in films for signifying a 'swarm' of insects, or in this case, maybe bats? It occurs from 0:16-0:19. I'm sure there are better examples on the internet but this is the only one that I could find offhand.

Example 1: http://www.yousendit.com/download/Q01IMWZCZEtoeVkwTVE9PQ
Example 2: http://www.yousendit.com/download/Q01IMWZCZEt6RTlFQlE9PQ

Thanks guys!

SK

[Jeff Hayat]

1) String (alot of violins) fx - glissandos, scratching, clusters - there are a number of names, and techniques. Very common, tho the good thing about these are each composer's score that contains these will sound different - the same orchestra would not get the identical sound each time, let alone different orchestras - because it's completely random; it's not "play this note, then this note".

Hard to tell if that's an orchestra, samples, or both. If it's samples, it's alot of layers. If you have EWQL XP, 11 Violins Scratching FX is pretty close. Then, you can take some of the other EW fx artics, and layer them in for some interesting combinations.

2) Same basic idea as #1, but violins only.

Cheers.

--edit--

The same sort of thing can be heard in these two LOTR snippets. (http://www.jeffreyhayat.com/LOTRScratches.mp3)

[Shahin]

RiffWraith,

Thanks for the response mate. I'll give it a go. I'm interested in how this String scratching and clusters thing works so I'll see if I can find the answers online for it.

SK

[Peterkjones]

Hi Shahin,
There is also a type of orchestration known as "aleatoric". In this the composer wants the musician to improvise but not entirely randomly. The instrumentalist works within parameters set by the composer and indicated by a special kind of notation, of which scratching, clusters, glissandi, harmonics and sul pont.are just a part of this kind of string technique (find harmonics in 11 Violins Long, the others in FX). You can find some of the notation in the latest Finale or Sibelius Alternate Notations menus, but you'll have to go online to get the most up to date. Some composers even draw on the music stave or play around with the shape of the stave itself to indicate what they want. Listen to Ligeti's Atmospheres (used in 2001: a Space Odyssey) and music by Luciano Berio to hear it in action. Google "aleatoric music" to find out more. Hope this is of use. Best PKJ

[Shahin]

I think I looked briefly at aleatoric music in one of my Composition classes. Its similar to what you've suggested except ours utilized random chance in determining the course of a piece (ie, such as the roll of dice).

I can't find much information scratching and clusters but I'll go and consult my trusty Orchestration manual now :)

SK

[Robbie_2327]

I've also tried to simulate the random or aleotoric effect at times. Its been years and I didn't have nearly the pallete of samples that I have now. But what I found to be effective for the piece I was writting was to approach it almost like I was several different players. In other words I layed several tracks (it was all pizzacato) each was totaly random as far as timing and notes. The only thing I concentrated on was creating a crescendo and decrescing the note values (playing the notes faster as I went along). The end result was IMO a fairly good effect that created that 'insect' feeling. Unfortunately I don't have a sample of it in MP3 format to show here