Argle Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 I'm wondering if there is a typical makeup (numbers-wise) of players in a non-orchestral brass section. Like how many trumpets, trombones, etc. I'm making a template in my DAW and want to have something that is plausible and realistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timaeus222 Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_band Maybe this? I would think you already looked at this though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argle Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 Surprisingly, no. XD. but that 'splains it well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanthos Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 That'd be for a big band in jazz. Smaller horn sections can be any number of combinations, from just a trumpet and a tenor to an alto, tenor, two trumpets, and a trombone. Outside of big band writing, I don't think there's any standard template to follow, and what instruments you use will largely be dictated by the sound you want, or, in a live band setting, by who you actually have in the band (eg. you might prefer the sound of a trumpet and tenor, but if you can only find an alto player, you take what you can get.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyline Drop Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 I think bare minimum would be a trumpet and either a tenor or alto sax (preferably a tenor because they're both in Bb, so you'd really only need to write one horn part if you wanted). A brassier, more aggressive section might have two trumpets, a tenor, and a trombone. That would be a bit brassy sounding, though; you could sub out a trumpet for another saxophone without losing much volume but giving a more balanced sound. I think that's what Chicago used back in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanthos Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 (preferably a tenor because they're both in Bb, so you'd really only need to write one horn part if you wanted). That's the slacker reason (especially when writing in a DAW or notation program when you can write everything in concert pitch and transpose if needed). I'd choose a tenor and trumpet because a tenor has a nicer sound (IMO) than an alto - it's more mellow and warmer - and a tenor doesn't overlap as much, pitchwise, with a trumpet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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