A short video but I found it interesting how the composer starts by creating a 4 bar loop in his DAW, adds one chord per bar (Dm, C, Gm, Am), then while the loop is still playing quickly adds accompaniment. This seems like a good idea for quickly generating ideas.
The elements of this composition are as follows (in the order they were added to the video):
- strings playing chords
- harp playing arpeggio
- low brass playing bass notes
- basic steady percussion rhythm (sticks or something light)
- taiko drums providing rhythmic accents
- violins playing legato lead melody
- strings playing simple ostinato (alternating between 2 or 3 notes, but simpler than harp arpeggio
- horns play melody when violins are not playing melody, then harmony/counterpoint when violins are playing melody
What I would do after what the composer has done, is go back and pull apart the added accompaniment so it eventually builds up to the point where all the accompaniment is playing. I’d try mixing and matching the accompaniment, perhaps repeat the whole process to create a B section then put everything together for a complete composition
Orchestration in 5 minutes with 4 chords (by Wangching Vamnokhu)
Here’s how the composition from the above video sounds when pulled apart a little bit and rendered using Virtual Playing Orchestra (plus some taiko drums)
I thought your rendition had more punch to the sounds and was a good improvement. That’s not to say his was bad!
Thanks Thomas. Perhaps it’s the build up that helps.
Hi, is the composer using Virtual Playing Orchestra?
Thank you.
I’m pretty sure he’s not, BUT, I’ve just added my arrangement of his composition above, that does use Virtual Playing Orchestra (plus some extra taiko drums).
What are the four keys? What kind of keyboard and daw are you using?
Great music.
Thank you.
Right at the beginning of the video, he shows the 4 chords as Dm, C, Gm, Am.
As for what DAW and keyboard I’m using in the video, I didn’t make the video. It isn’t me, … [edit] but my version of his composition (beneath the video) was made using a Yamaha DX7IIFD as my MIDI controller and Reaper as my DAW.