Every. Note. Matters.

When it comes to music, the quality one expects to hear as he listens to a recording will only ever be equal to the quality of the work that was put into creating the music. As an orchestrator, it’s my job to be sure that every instrument chosen, every note to be played, every dynamic and expressive marking that is to be interpreted are all exactly as they should be.

When put like that, it makes orchestrating sound like incredibly detailed, delicate and tedious work. In a lot of ways it is. But when your brain is equally balanced between the right and the left, it only makes sense to be as creative as possible while simultaneously being as intricately involved in the minute details of the music.

Why go to this extreme? Why be this concerned about every aspect of the music itself?

What happens as a result of this intentional focus is instantly recognizable – orchestral balance, ensemble unity in regards to expressiveness and articulation, wonderfully unique subtleties, and a performance that is unmatched.

Why do you use an orchestrator? Why do you partner with someone who knows the instruments – their capabilities, their expressive qualities, their individual contributions to the ensemble?

The answer is surprisingly simple: Every. Note. Matters.

 


“David…was our orchestrator and conductor, who through his fantastic rapport with musicians and extensive knowledge of the unique needs of game scoring, brought my pieces to life in the best way
possible.  I can’t tell you how valuable it was that we were all on the same wavelength, especially on cues…where [he] went the extra mile with options I never even thought to ask for…”

Wilbert Roget, II
Composer, Call of Duty: World War II
Articles and Tips
From time to time, I'll post news about recent projects or maybe feel the need to share with the world an idea I have in regards to arranging, orchestrating, or just music in general. Also, for those who enjoy reading my FinaleGuru blog posts, you'll now be able to find them here.