03 - The Elements of Musical Expression

03 - The Elements of Musical Expression

Speaking loosely, Composition is determining which notes to play. Orchestration is determining whose job it is to play them. When and how those notes that have already been chosen are played is a matter of EXPRESSION.  

Here are the fundamental parameters that dictate expression and feeling in music.  

1 - DYNAMICS
(crescendos, decrescendos, swells, accents, etc)

DYNAMICS with organic instruments is a combination of VOLUME and TIMBRE changes 

1b - PHRASING
(essentially, how dynamics play out over a certain melodic statement) 

2 - ARTICULATION
(the type or quality of the sound - staccato, sustain, pizzicato, vibrato, etc)

Some instruments have more or fewer ways that can make different sounds (articulation types). Pizzicato, etc. I'm not going to get into articulation use much in this course beyond because discussing how to use short and long articulations in dynamic ways and the bonus lesson on vibrato. 

3 - TEMPO 

(Timing Fluctuations - accelerando, ritardando, tempo rubato, fermata, etc.)

Any that affects the the speed of play will fall into this category. In this course I am going to address both macro-level timing fluctuations (basically, the ones you would find marked on a page of sheet music) and the micro-level timing fluctuations that make a performance feel authentic and human. 

Bringing Virtual Orchestra Music to Life Vol 1: Expression, Dynamics, and Performance

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Introduction and Foundations

  • 01 - Welcome and Intro3
  • 02 - Addressing Common Mindset Issues
  • 03 - The Elements of Musical Expression

Dynamics

  • 04 - How Virtual Instruments Express Dynamics
  • 05 - Common Dynamic Shapes
  • 06 - Making Dynamic Shapes With Longs
  • 07 - Making Dynamic Shapes with Shorts4
  • 08 - Dynamic Phrasing
  • DYNAMIC SHAPES MIDI.zip

Time + Tempo

  • 09 - Approaching Tempo Musically
  • 10 - Programming Macro Level Timing Changes
  • 11 - Human Timing in Real Orchestras
  • 12 - Humanizing Timing with VI Part 1: Quantizing, Pre-delay, Project Cleanup
  • 13 - Humanizing Timing with VI Part 2: Tempo Rubato, Feathering, Intentionally Loose Timing

Bonus

  • 14 - Vibrato Control With Virtual Instruments
  • 15 - Working with Solo VS Ensemble Patches - A few Thoughts
  • 16 - Making your own Evolving Sustains and Textures
  • 17 - Dynamic Shapes with Strings and Brass
  • 18 - Misc Ideas for Leveling-up both your Music and your Musicality
  • 19 - TL;DR Points + Tips Taken From the Entire Course
  • 20 - Thank You and Next Steps