How to Compose for Choir

🎵 If you enjoyed this video, make sure to also check out my free training - 'My 3 Secrets to Composing Rich Cinematic Music':
www.composingacademy.com/free...
As a beginner composer, do you struggle to write effectively for the Choir? In this video I breakdown the basics of writing and orchestrating for a choir section, including a brief description of the Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses (SATB). I then take you through an orchestral piece detailing various Choral writing and orchestration techniques, to help you get the best sound from the Choir section.
► Get your FREE Beginner's Guide To Composing Music in 5 Easy Steps here:composingacademy.ck.page/5eas...
00:00 - Intro
00:37 - Basics
02:39 - Example of writing for Choir
03:36 - Clarinet Section
09:17 - Recommended Sample Libraries
11:40 - Outro
Recommended Choir Sample Libraries
Spitfire Audio Labs
labs.spitfireaudio.com/#type=...
Audio Imperia Nucleus Lite
www.audioimperia.com/products...
Orchestral Tools Metropolis Ark 1
www.orchestraltools.com/store...
8dio Requiem Professional
8dio.com/instrument/requiem-p...
If you enjoyed this video, make sure to subscribe to the Composing Academy Channel, for more Composing and Music Theory tips and tricks.
Composing Academy is the place to learn how to begin composing your own music. Here you will find easy to follow videos explaining core Music Theory concepts along with various tips and tricks to help you craft that perfect song of cinematic piece of music.

[@shrednut]

This channel always outputs the most quality material. You’re a great teacher, with great examples and a wonderful talent for composing.

[@composingacademy8270]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I hope you're finding the content useful!

[@YuanPang15]

The video is so good considering all the important details ! Thank you for your brilliant representation !

[@PJ-ee5mc]

This is a wonderful video and you are a thoughtful and talented instructor. Early in the video you wisely showed triads and a simple graphical representation of the choir and how you then built upon it, thickening the choir with additional voices above and below. Yes, this dynamic might seem obvious to some but to others the value of seeing it displayed in a linear fashion was perfect. A perfect example of how 'one picture is worth a thousand words' and so helpful to those who are eager to learn. Visual aids are always so effective in teaching and are now such a great part of working with midi and using a DAW. Bravo, Simon! Keep up the great work.

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi PJ, thanks so much for your feedback. I had forgotten about the graphic, so thanks for reminding me!

[@iamthereforeimustbe]

I’ve been binging your videos and have both thoroughly enjoyed them and learnt so many things. I shall be putting many of the elements you’ve shown to good use. 🙏🏻❤️

[@PapierschnitzelPapercraft]

Ha! I didn't expect a choir section video but I enjoyed it very much. Love that I can try stuff out with the free LABS choir. Great work as usual!!!

[@composingacademy8270]

Thanks so much!

[@UnOwInGeD]

Your videos are top tier stuff. Always enjoy and learn something here

[@composingacademy8270]

Thanks so much for your kind words and continued support!

[@audiomixexpert3175]

Great tutorial Simon! I'm really enjoying this series explaining how to write for the various sections. Would it be possible to get a full track analysis / breakdown for this particular composition? Really enjoyed this track and would like to know how to write something along these lines. Thanks again.

[@composingacademy8270]

Thanks so much for watching-yes I'm planning on revisiting the piece for a future video - I'm glad you enjoyed the track!

[@chancemusicyt]

i’m a high school student in choir who’s really interested in composition. i want to compose a piece (possibly religious, anyone have ideas for a song that’s commonly used and versatile that i can arrange?) that i want to surprise my director with when i graduate. (maybe even a poem i can be creative with?) thanks for giving me an idea of how to do this.

[@KOSTASGONTIKAKIS]

Excellent .Love your epic choir

[@andreasheierre8915]

Brilliant video! Will also recommend Spitfire’s Originals choir! It is only 29€\$\£ and really good!

[@seventearsofhope]

I follow your tutorials for a long time, and I must admit, that I love to learn from you. Choir is one of my favorite elements when composing. As you requested, I would love to see a video about the sections in a (trailer) and the transistions between them. What are the possibilities, and what makes sense, and what not. Thank you so much, Simon. Keep it up. Greetings from Germany - SevenTearsOfHope

[@composingacademy8270]

Many thanks for watching and for your kind words! Thanks for the suggestion as well - I've made a note and will try to put something together regarding Trailer Music and structure. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@MrKmusic7]

Awesome video!!!! Question: Is Cubase and your notation software in sync or did you line things up in post? Would absolutely love if there was a way to sync the two. Thanks.

[@mikemeier5004]

Hi Simon. Thank you for the tutorial. Very useful as always. Short question regarding your sample library recommendations. What do you think about the EastWest/Soundsonline libraries (Symphonic Choirs and Symphonic Orchestra)?

[@Nolimitsfreak22]

Hello Simon, first off your video's are amazing! Thanks a lot for the high quality video's. I have one question. Suppose that at one time in your track you would like the choir to sing the melody line. Ive seen your video on how to compose a piece given a melody, but the choir sings in unison in that video. What if you'd like to make a 3-part harmony? Often you can use triads to harmonise. But how do you then harmonise with notes that are NOT in the chord (e.g. passing notes?). If you could help me out if would be greatly appreciated!! Best, Wessel

[@danielrennie8444]

Very nicely done! Always learn something new from your videos! Looking forward to the rest of the series. Strings, brass, woods, and choir down. Percussion, synths, and "bringing all 6 sections together" to go!!

[@composingacademy8270]

Thank you! Yes the percussion video is currently in the process of being made....its taking a a while though!

[@danielrennie8444]

@@composingacademy8270 I don't mean to be a bother.....I just really like your videos and am always waiting for the next one. I don't mean to try and rush you or tell you what to do for your future videos....it just excites me is all.... :/ I know you put a lot of hard work into each video, (I can see it in each one I watch) and it does take time to do it as well as you do. So keep up the great work, and take as long as you need to make it meet your standards!! Thank you for all you do, Simon!!

[@composingacademy8270]

@@danielrennie8444 No I loved the idea you gave me for doing the whole series including synths etc - thank you! Juggling my existing teaching commitments as well as a baby has proved tricky this week :-). So glad to hear that the videos are useful for you though!

[@composingacademy8270]

Oh and thank you for the continued support!

[@danielrennie8444]

@@composingacademy8270 Yes, by all means, family comes first!! I heartily agree!! We can wait, but your family needs you more :) and yes of course. My pleasure!! I like your teaching style. You appeal to my practical side lol

[@clairecooper1754]

Enjoyed this, thank you. I didn't know Nucleaus lite had choir samples of detached notes. Thanks again.

[@composingacademy8270]

Thanks for watching! Yea Nucleus Lite is amazing for the price!

[@stormfate2108]

Wow great tutorial man! U got a new sub! Would love a cubase template tutorial for orchestral music! Keep up the good work!

[@composingacademy8270]

Thanks so much! I've made a note - will def make a video about Orchestral templates in the future!

[@suryamogali78]

Wonderful channel ❤️

[@composingacademy8270]

Thanks so much!

[@MartinJG100]

9:17. LABS is surprisingly good for sketching which I believe was pinched from the Eric Whitacre choir, along with the patch in Free Orchestra (albeit a swell) making an interesting blend. East West choirs is also still quite good value if purchased in one of the seemingly endless sales that barely pause for breath:).

[@composingacademy8270]

I have the very original East West symphonic choir which you've just reminded me of - I'm going to try and find the original installation DVDs and load it up. So much easier with samples today though, especially the LABS series which are brilliant

[@MartinJG100]

@@composingacademy8270 Indeed.

[@vedmishra5081]

pls provide notation link always which you play in video .. thanks

[@emilyrln]

Gotta admit I was really hoping the bass would drop 😂 gorgeous piece and very helpful walk-through!

[@composingacademy8270]

Thank you for watching, I am pleased you enjoyed it!

[@mikolajfilipmusic]

How to create interesting patterns of choir from Nucleus?

[@iaraplangkyndait-wm5ic]

Thank you

[@composingacademy8270]

You're welcome, thank you for watching!

[@GertimAlberda]

I do it differently. I don't think at all in cadences nor try to fill them in in advance. I think in bass lines (like figured bass) and where it leads to, as a driving force so to speak, and the rest, the inner voicel, and the cadences, almost comes automatically (and it makes it less predictable and defined). This may also be how Bach thought, by the way, for example when we look at the bass lines added by bach below the Schemelli solo pieces, but there are many more examples of that. Also, to stress how important he found it, he also wrote about it and explicitly taught about it (figured bass). The importance of the bass line remains a bit overlooked almost nowadays, at least when it comes to the harmonization and writing of hymns and chorales.

[@composingacademy8270]

There are so many different ways you can compose and looking back at classical composers is a good way of doing it as well. Just sharing the way I prefer to compose and hope it helps others too!

[@imanifilmz6552]

Hi Simon been for a long longing to a film music composer, but could not know how to get started I got a few gears to start with, kindly I'd like to know some of the best vst to use out there. Thank you for your response.

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi Imani, many thanks for watching. I would recommend Spitfire Audio's Discover as a great free introduction into Orchestral VSTs. Audio Imperia Nucleus Lite is then the next step up which I would recommend, with a price of $99. I hope that helps!

[@abelshenende171]

I want to be learning music notes online with you

[@TechnoDad]

Thanks for this! Going to add some cinematic music for my KZbin videos. BTW, looks like there is a sale on Requim Pro...$50!!!

[@composingacademy8270]

Thanks for the heads up!

[@VictorSyamsuri]

would you tell me. what is the sofware .do you used

[@composingacademy8270]

If you mean DAW, I am a Cubase user :-)

[@rumar4u]

Please Simon, if you can, fix the page of the guide. It gives the 404 error. Thanks

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi Ruben, many thanks for letting me know. I think its sorted now - let me know if you have any difficulties. Apologies for any inconvenience!

[@rumar4u]

@@composingacademy8270 BTW Simon, I ended up buying Requiem Pro as it was on sale 55% Discount plus a Strings Library freebie ($298.00 Value) for the grand total of $224.00. I like it has that "Oh Fortuna" (fff) type of Choir. Thanks for the video

[@tuck295q]

7:00 what does he mean by pedal notes?

[@composingacademy8270]

A pedal note is basically a pitch which stays constant whilst the harmony around it changes...so in the video, at the 7.00 mark, I have an 'A' which is constantly playing, but the other notes (above and below) are changing. I find pedal notes can be useful in coming up with different harmonies/sounds. I hope that helps!

[@VelocityRecordingStudio]

You are my new best friend

[@composingacademy8270]

Haha thank you!

[@leonard_kristianto]

Hi Simon, is there any way to communcate with you? Via email?

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi Leonard, yes I can be reached at info @ composingacademy.com

[@petertremblay3725]

Spitfire Epic Choir is fantastic for only 29$

[@composingacademy8270]

Will check it out, thank you!

[@petertremblay3725]

@@composingacademy8270 I was struggling to find an affordable choir and this one is simply the best for the price and believe me i have search all over the web. I am a game developer but for my game i could not afford a compositor so i have to do everything by my self.

[@Sarah-oj7bh]

While impressive as a lesson in computer music, I don't feel this is really about writing for real life choirs. The tenors and deep altos would hate you for making them sing so many repeated a's.

[@gkgyver]

Altos are notated in the alto clef, hence alto clef. Same with tenors in tenor clef. I hate that proper details like these get lost among MIDI musicians because they're too lazy to learn. If you really want to fundamentally learn to write for choir, study things like Wagners Parsifal. MIDI musicians think choir writing is pressing block chords on a keyboard

[@composingacademy8270]

Hi Georg, many thanks for your honest feedback, which I'll use to hopefully make better content. I'll definitely check out Wagner's Parsifal - thank you for the recommendation

[@randyleazenby2351]

Not really much help

[@wolflahti412]

Baritones get no respect.

[@sanjapopovic4698]

What about male-identifying sopranos? Why aren't they allowed to sing low bass parts even though their natural range is high? Why can't basses who identify as women sing high parts? All choral works written so far should be banned because they are offensive. AI should be introduced to write generic music, not for humans to write. The most significant thing in the world is how you identify yourself, not what you are according to biological, scientific and logical principles. Hello ! what century is this? We have to think in that way in order to improve humanity, it is done by insisting that what you really are is not highlighted, but how you identify yourself!!!!

[@Logan0324_]

mate if you can’t sing the range of a part you don’t sing that part, its not that complicated. If you are a bass and can’t sing a soprano range note, you can’t sing soprano, simple as. Btw it’s not a set rule that only women are allowed in sops and altos, and men in tenors and basses, its just the general trend as it is rare that a man can sing soprano, and if a man can sing soprano, or a woman bass, go ahead!

[@ebu6880]

how are you so butthurt that you have to make bait like this in a fucking KZbin video about composition?