Default Strings in String Orchestra template (3.6.2)

• Jun 30, 2021 - 18:18

MuseScore 3.6.2 String Orchestra template defaults to set of solo string instruments
instead of a section. Shall I file this as a minor bug?

Violin : Violins
Viola : Violas
Violoncello : Violoncellos
Contrabass : Contrabasses

https://musescore.com/devstakcreations/ms3-tip-violin-vs-violins


Comments

Not a bug as far as I can tell, that template has 5 instruments, all singular, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Violoncello and Contrabass. Looks pretty different from what you show here.

In reply to by Jojo-Schmitz

I think String Orchestra is comprised of between 12-60 strings (string instrumentalists). The template has 5 solo instruments, which is more like a String Quintet.

Sorry to confuse you - my demo was meant to show Musescore has different soundfont for string 'section' instead of string 'solo'.

Other templates under MuseScore, Classical Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra, do come up correctly with string sections. Also the String Quartet template correctly comes up with 4 solo string parts.

In reply to by bobjp

I sat on this issue for quite a while... the reason I brought this up is that I came to the realization MuseScore app is very popular with "self-taught" young musicians using this as a learning/experimenting platform. I just didn't want to lead them astray, much like a typo in school text book.

I just saw too many "check out my very first symphony" submissions on Musescore[dot]com site, using single string instruments.

Personally I don't use this template.

In reply to by Shaw Takeuchi

I spend no time at .com, but I'm not surprised that happens. What would be more important to me is if the music is any good. If someone were to gently suggest to the first timer that they might really like string sections instead single instruments, it could be a good lesson. On the other hand, what if they chose solo over sections on purpose. I suspect that many self-taught users don't know the difference anyway. Not their fault.

In reply to by bobjp

Yes I stared doing that -- also started posting series of quick-tip tutorials on the .com site, instead of adding my original compositions. (The culture there has changed, and I'm no longer comfortable posting my compositions there.)

For me important part of determining if "music is any good" -- is not just quality of melodic, accompaniment, and fugue/counterpoint flows (Baroque era), but also that of dynamics, blending and texturing orchestration techniques (Romantic era). I tend to work with lots of cross-fading techniques also. These require reasonably accurate instrument mockup (not necessarily pretty) soundfonts to design a composition - MS3 does a good job at this, IMHO.

EDIT: re-edited for clarity 20210703

In reply to by Shaw Takeuchi

Sure, everyone's method of determining if "music is any good" is different. A simple melody over a simple accompaniment with an intriguing harmonic progression can be more interesting than something that is complex for the sake of complexity. I've certainly written both, and been accused of falling short in both. Composers tend to be the harshest critics.

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