Writing For The Real Orchestra, should I study Logic SCORE or books..... Options

[tokyoroland]

In the not-to-distant future, I may have the opportunity to score a film using a real orchestra. Now, I took a theory class at my junior college last semester, and I know the basics, but when it comes to writiing for the real thing, I am completely new.

My question is, should I rely on the comprehensive SCORE section of Logic platinum to automatically write it FOR me, just paying attention to recording... provided that I learn the whole SCORE section first, so I can detect errors...

Or should I go the traditional way, and read books on HOW to write for the orchestra, all of the different instruments.. because I dont know...if I give a printed score from Logic, will the orchestra play it different than I envisioned? Will I sound completely different, even if, in the future, I am using superb software instruments like Vienna and Spectrasonics?

All advice is welcome!



- jeffro

[formatj]

You are going to definitely have to read books on orchestration. Try "The study of Orchestration" by Samuel Adler (buy the 5 CD set for it too) or "Orchestration" by W.Piston.

You can use logic's score section to print scores for the orchestra (I have used it for 30-60 piece orchestras) however you are going to have to develop an understandiing about the basics such as the range of instruments and their transpositions to more complex theory such as if you were to expand a score from a piano part to a full orchestra who would you give the notes to, which instruments sound good together in unison or octaves etc.......

Do not rely on logic for the way it sounds with MIDI. Do not expect Logic to fix errors for you in printing the scores. If you give an orchestra a score they will play it as it is shown on the paper so it is essential that you have an understanding in your head about how it should sound and make sure that the printed score shows that.

By understanding orchestration you will also produce better and more realistic MIDI scores.

Buy some printed scores by composers you like and study them while listening to a CD of the work.