Orchestrating a Majestic Melody

In this video, I demonstrate strategies for creating orchestral textures when starting with just a melody and chords. Thank you, Michael for sending me this melody!
You can find the midi files, music xml files, Dorico, Cubase, Studio One, and audio stems for this video on my patreon page: / alexheppelmann
Here's a link to the Sibelius excerpt from this video: • Jean Sibelius - Sympho...
Sign up for my free short course on orchestrating like Joe Hisaishi, and stay informed of future courses: course.alexhep...
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For more information about my music, or to inquire about private composition lessons, please visit www.alexheppel...

[@VFXCommander]

Your channel... I just... It's so sad to see that you don't have too many followers. You are creating gold content with passion. You even gave an in-depth course for free. Please, don't think what you're doing is a waste. We are still here and waiting impatiently for your contents! :)

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Appreciate the support! Glad to have all the loyal viewers!

[@jade8538]

@@AlexHeppelmann I've become a big fan of Sibelius' work and have begun to study his scores. Re the excerpt you cite in the video, can you tell me which movement that is in his #2? ~ Thx!

[@AlexHeppelmann]

@@jade8538 Beginning of Movement IV

[@AmeeliaK]

The melody is so beautiful, now I want to hear the whole piece...it could be a movie soundtrack...

[@santiagovalenciamusic]

Amazing explanation. Clear and digestible. Thank you! Looking forward to your course.

[@young_aclement4134]

I found it today. It’s going to help me sure my orchestra practice music. Thank you so much!

[@maleake56]

Really nice job. Now I'll have to pick up the MIDI, study it and write my own majestic piece. I'm looking forward to your orchestration course when it comes out later.

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thanks, Michael!

[@BernhardPressler-Seisser-g9e]

Hi. First let me congratulate for your didactic feeling for explaining realy complex musical work. For me the thinking of orchestration parallel to compisition is essential for I regard every piece/type of music "being a story" somebody is moved by and wants to tell either the story as well as what touched him/her to others. In this sense I have always to keep 3 things in mind: What is the story about? Where/When does it take place? What/who is touched/moved in which way. Thanks for your Interpretation of how a story can be told. Best regards; Berny

[@tipicoseisillo3230]

Really good video dude, you win a subi, keep going 👌👌

[@winknotes]

Great video. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to your course.

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thank you, Steve!

[@hittjett]

Somehow I missed this. Nice job!

[@patriciabristow-johnson5951]

Thanks for sharing this with us!!!!

[@AlexHeppelmann]

You're very welcome!

[@Mikejkcjla]

Very interesting and useful. Maybe, just don’t forget to make your first French horn to breath.

[@Mazurking]

What a gem lf a channel. I'm gonna try to watch many of your orchestration videos to learn all about it. Just one question : what program do you use to play the music for you?

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thanks! I typically mockup each example using Orchestral Tools sample libraries in Cubase.

[@AliasgarVirdiwala]

Explanation is very fine sir. Sir what "DAW" you've used while making these type of orchestration? and the which library it was? cause it sounds very lively!

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thanks! This was done in Dorico and Cubase with OT Berlin libraries.

[@AliasgarVirdiwala]

@@AlexHeppelmann And sir from where you learnt about orchestration & arrangements? And could you refer me with a specific course?

[@AlexHeppelmann]

@@AliasgarVirdiwala I'm working on an orchestration course right now actually! Stay tuned!

[@sarahaprincesa]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@hamza.13]

You know i love music i really do my parent they didn’t want me to do music so i never studied it formally lately i start chasing my dream to become a composer and i start learning music by myself and i do struggle a lot bcuz i don’t have a teacher and i can’t afford one but when i come across your channel i felt that everything is gonna change i really appreciate that you share with us those informations im very thankful to you for real ❤

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Happy to hear, and glad that I can be of some help in your musical journey!

[@Markrspooner]

Great video Alex and love the asides you do such as talk about when notes can sound dissonant and how to treat it. Wonderful orchestration, plus I love Sibelius Symphonies especially the 2nd, truly wonderful.

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thanks, Mark! I was hoping the aside wouldn't be too out of place!

[@jade8538]

In the last 2 bars of the 1st orchestration, I noticed parallel fifths in the bassoon part. It's refreshing for a novice like me to see cases where the 'rules' are broken to good effect -- it sounds great (I don't really hear the "loss of the independent line").

[@BrennansMusic]

The work seems sound, but the instruments may be the issue. I'm not sure. It sounds very synthetic. If you are not using BBC spitfire, perhaps try that. It could also be the lack of modulation. In any case, synthetic results kind of kill the effect of your work done here.

[@35wonderstreet]

This was simply the best tutorial on orchestration (and arranging) under 20 mins!

[@Dissonance333]

I think God made me watch this

[@CerenTurkmenoglu]

Amazing work. Thank you so much for your highly informative videos. Very happy to have found your channel.

[@RickRosfeld]

Fantastic. Clear explanations. Love how you moved the melody from horns to strings and back again.

[@gabrielebenson4784]

Wonderful tutorial!👏👏👏

[@sagcap7927]

Your explanation is solid. I was wondering if you have anything on orchestrating a song. Like, from a lead sheet to a score. Would love to see how a songs melody and harmonic progression gets orchestrated to full orchestra or rhythm section.

[@erez2417]

this is so helpful, how didnt i find this channel until now

[@MrKeithterrett]

This channel deserevs a lot more support, excellent information Alex.

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thanks!!

[@eliyahhaddads5778]

love it! thanks

[@jade8538]

I just discovered your channel 2 days ago and I'm thrilled that I did. For a fledgling composer/orchestrator like me this video was really insightful. The process of taking a melody and orchestrating it in increasingly larger scope was exactly the type of info I've been seeking. Your explanation regarding orchestration choices was refreshingly clear. Please consider making more of these "Orchestrating a Melody" videos. (I'll be visiting your Patreon page). ~ Cheers, Kevin J.

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thanks, glad you found the channel! I'll be doing more of these videos soon!

[@lowe7471]

Thanks for sharing this. Always good to see how inspiration/guidance comes from scores from major composers. Keep on sharing how you look to those old scores for help.

[@AlexHeppelmann]

Thanks, will do!

[@nilovankralingen1489]

Very insightful video, thanks!

[@AlexHeppelmann]

You're welcome!

[@peterwloszek5472]

Thank you!!!

[@AlexHeppelmann]

You're welcome!