Composer tips : 5 Steps to the Ultimate Orchestral Crescendo

Unlock the secrets to crafting a breathtaking orchestral crescendo in just 5 simple steps! One of the best composer tips for you! Starting with a piano reduction, I’ll guide you through layering the string orchestra, woodwinds, and brass to build towards an epic musical climax, all with sample libraries. Learn how to double melodies, harmonize accompaniments, and carefully add higher and lower octaves for maximum impact in your orchestrations. Using a beautiful chord progression and melody by Arnold Schoenberg, join me as I unveil step by step the art of creating a smooth and natural orchestral crescendo!
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For a full video of me orchestrating a piano piece for a larger orchestra : • THE COMPLETE PROCESS :...
Melody arrangement based on Verklärte Nacht by Arnold Schoenberg, See excerpt at minute 15:15 : • Arnold Schoenberg - Ve...
my sample libraries in this video :
Kontakt sample libraries
Albion One from Spitfire audio
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0:00 Introduction
0:40 What is an orchestral crescendo?
1:05 Five steps explained
4:00 Piano reduction
5:00 Step 1 Strings
8:45 Step 2 Flute and Clarinet
11:34 Step 3 Oboe and Bassoon
14:00 Step 4 Horns and Double bass
16:59 Step 5 Trumpet, Trombone and Tuba
19:16 Full arrangement!
#composertips #orchestration #musicproducer #orchestralmusic #howtowriteorchestralmusic

[@classical-music-lab]

Thank you for the video. It's kind to share such valuable knowledge.

[@adavidcompo]

It’s my pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@rodterrell304]

Thank you Alexandre, this is extremely helpful and easy to understand.

[@adavidcompo]

Happy to help, thanks for tuning in!

[@winknotes]

Great video. I appreciate the live demonstration.

[@adavidcompo]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stevepreskitt283]

Thanks for the tips! Something else that I occasionally do for some more options is to double an Eb or F tuba with the horns as the crescendo progresses. In the upper register, those baby tubas can flesh out the horns' presence a bit more as long as you don't go too overboard because as you mentioned, they're inherently powerful instruments.

[@adavidcompo]

This is definitely an option if you want the horn’s appearance to be a bit more supported! The tubas are quite flexible in that way, can pair well with horns, trombone, double bass and bassoon. I haven’t talked about all other subgroups as well, as I wanted to keep this straightforward, but so many possibilities!!!

[@emilie6250]

Loved it! 🤩

[@adavidcompo]

Merci!!!

[@jitsukerr]

Is this an orchestral crescendo, or more of a fleshing out of the orchestral colour?

[@adavidcompo]

I think both are the same! I just don’t go all out on creating a crescendo from piano to triple forte here, because the music doesn’t need that much. But yeah, having a whole orchestra play soft I think have an impact on the density, the amount of sound, so in a direct way on the dynamics.