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Well, I guess this could be yet another sample library request for the VSL folks. Why not a Swing Band Brass/Winds too while we're at it. They could do both at the same time? Maybe?
Oh! And please don't forget my Boys Choir request that I put in years ago. I'd even settle for a Girls Choir if that would be easier.
Why not a Swing Band Brass/Winds too while we're at it. They could do both at the same time? Maybe?
Or even Latin Brass😉
When I heard "Brass Band" I just thought a song from SWEET CHARITY.
A set of instruments for Concert Band would be wonderful! I just use most of the solo instruments for what I need. The sound seems to work overall. More sections would be nice such as Saxophones and Tubas. I think some of the lower instruments would only one or two players in a real situation. Adding a Baritone Horn and a Contra-alto clarinet might fill in a couple of missing instruments.
The traditional brass band includes an Eb Cornet, Eb Alto/Tenor Horn, and both Eb and Bb tubas in addition to Cornets, Flugelhorn and Trombones.
VSL has no Eb Cornet, no Eb horn and sadly I find the VSL cornet dissappointing.
No, the VSL Cornet is one of the great sampled instruments. It is molto espressivo and the ultimate performance and recording quality.
However, I do agree that the concert/symphonic band could be an area where VSL can create a very unique sound. The large number of clarinets and flutes, trumpets, cornets, and some specific instruments now available allow a clarinet ensemble of 5 Bflat, Eflat high clarinet, alto clarinet (bassett horn), bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, 5 flutes, piccolo, (not to mention alto and bass flutes), all the saxes in solo versions, 5 oboes, (not to mention two English horns), 5 bassoons, contrabassoon. So what is missing in woodwinds is another massed ensemble of clarinets - perhaps six. Because if you use transposition/pitch shift then you have at least two doublings of each group. This would create a huge concert band sound in woodwinds.
On Brass there are: 16 trumpets in the high range - 6 trumpet ensemble, 3 trumpet ensemble, c trumpet, B flat trumpet, Cornet, Dimension trumpets, not to mention bass trumpet, piccolo trumpet and flugelhorn. In horns there are way more horns than any concert band I ever played in - 18. There are also 10 trombones, euphonium, 2 tubas. Those are the sounds that already exist. But there could perhaps be sampled additionally a Sousaphone as well as the bigger clarinet ensemble. Perhaps there could be a "Special Brass and Woodwinds II"?
I'm glad you like the VSL Cornet. As a solo instrument, it does work well.
I use VSL within Sibelius, so I'm not sure how much that effects my experience with the VSL Cornet. But my problem occurs when I try to use 2 or 3 cornets. There seems to be so much baked in vibrato that the sound is unusable. I have to use 2 or 3 dimension trumpets instead. And using the "ord" or "senza vibrato" expression text does not seem to help.
I love the Euphonium, which I know some purchasers have complained about, but I find to be awesome.
It seems highly unlikely that every musician on earth would ever be in 100% agreement about anything.
Yeah I overstated that. I can see what you are saying about the vibrato with several cornets. That would be another great Dimension instrument to have for this purpose. I have been experimenting with getting a big, symphonic band sound but when you consider how the clarinets in band are almost as numerous as violins and violas in orchestra and are used in a similar way, it is not easy. So if there were a dedicated sample library for it that would be fabulous.
Very impressive work William! In fact, I liked it so much that I listened to all of your new YouTube posts, and find your work to be really wonderful. I like your harmonic style, with its mixture of classical romantic era and film music influences. Awesome work.