Arranging with Brass Samples

Using brass samples in your music can create expression and power that goes way beyond what can be achieved with strings or woodwind instruments alone. Mark Cousins polishes his brass...

With so many musicians now having access to respectable orchestral samples, it’s only a matter of time before we all attempt to experiment with some form of orchestration or arrangement, from simply adding a splash of strings or brass to an existing track to creating a complete orchestral performance. Although strings tend to be the default choice for ‘orchestral colour’, it is often the brass section that provides the power and character behind a piece of music, as demonstrated perfectly by contemporary film music such as John Williams’ strident fanfare at the beginning of Star Wars. Including brass in your compositions, therefore, enables you to create an immediately expansive sound. Equally, it opens up a range of timbre and colour that’s difficult to achieve with any other instrumentation.

This feature first appeared in Music Tech Magazine issue 55
Filed under General Features

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