Is it possible to compose orchestra type music without having an orchestra?

Question

I want to compose music on my own

because I believe I would be good at it

(I always "compose?" or create sympathy music in my head"

I need to do it by myself because I do not have access to an orchestra

Answer 1

Purchase Finale Songwriter, and you can compose your pieces on the computer. It even plays it back for you, and it is very professional and works well. I love it!

Answer 2

Yes, this can be done, as well as recorded without an orchestra.  Couple different ways to do it.  A lot of the music I do is Classical based, and with a 24 track recorder, I can single out different sections .. (strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion).... on the many keyboards that I own and record them section by section.   Individual instruments can be singled out as well for "solo passages".  Another way  to do it.... if you have a keyboard already, and it has a 6-24 track recorder built in, thats another option to write and record your parts separately.

  Lastly, use the orchestra section of any keyboard.

I might also add that the work I do does not involve a pc for anything.  The music is composed and played realtime.   Im using a Tascam 2488MKll hard disc recorder.  (80GB)  Keyboards include a M-Audio Pro Keys 88 stage Piano/Midi controller, and my midi sound module is a very outdated Alesis QS4.  A Roland Juno D, Roland Juno 2, Yamaha V50 synthisizer and Yamaha DGX 300 round out the list.  I also program drum tracks on the keyboards, and also have a stand alone drum machine.  Add guitars, electric bass.. and viola... 4-6 months later.. a completed piece!

  Some examples of Keyboards that can be used to do this type of music are any workstation that Korg, Alesis, Roland, or Yamaha puts out. (im not using any type of Keyboard  workstations, as I have the stand alone 24 track recorder)

The Korg "TR" series workstations offer 16 track recorders, while the Roland Fantom series offers 24 tracks of recording. All of the workstation keyboards of today offer built in effects, editing, and mixdown capabilities, and some with a finished CD as the end result right off of the keyboard.  Its usually best to work off a full 88 note keyboard if this is all you are going to use, and prices range on these anywhere from about 2500 for a Roland Fantom X to about 8500 for the very high end Korg Oasys Workstaion.

  While its against the rules of this site to plug my own stuff... fell free to visit my profile and email me from there, as I can respond back and give you my website address if your interested in hearing some classical/symphonic  compositions done around rock.

Answer 3

sympathy music?  to make people feel sorry for you?  

<jk>

No;  few composers have access to an orchestra.  Those who do are the "composers in residence" associated with orchestras and/or universities.  You can use a piano.

Here's an example of a "composer in residence" who does have access to orchestras, my composition teacher at Rice (who developed the program there), Samuel Jones:

http://samueljones.net/news.html

Answer 4

Yes.  Composers very seldom have access to orchestras when composing music.  Usually all they have is a piano.