Introduction
Have you ever dreamed of recording a song with a world-class orchestra? For many music producers and artists, the idea of collaborating with an ensemble that has worked with giants like Disney, Marvel, and Universal is simply exhilarating. This article recounts my journey of hiring one of the top string orchestras to record a song I co-wrote and produced for a talented Canadian artist named Quinn Thronus. From the initial concept to the final recording, this experience was nothing short of transformative.
The Beginning: Collaborating with Quinn Thronus
Quinn Thronus is a Christian artist from Canada, and I had the pleasure of producing her music for over a year. Together, we had released several songs that even made it onto Christian radio. In July, we embarked on a more ambitious project: a ten-song album. One particular track, titled "Work You Begun," stood out as an emotional ballad that Quinn envisioned with a minimalist arrangement—just piano and strings.
As a producer with a specialization in cinematic production, the idea of crafting a piece with such a lush orchestral vibe excited me. Initially, we planned to use high-quality string libraries to achieve the desired sound. However, as we began laying down the music, the thought of incorporating a real orchestra started to take shape.
The Idea of Hiring a Real Orchestra
During our preparations for Quinn's upcoming vocal sessions, the topic of a live orchestra emerged. I suggested the idea of hiring a professional orchestra to elevate the emotional impact of "Work You Begun." To my delight, Quinn was receptive to the idea, and I quickly began researching how to make this dream a reality.
I had been using a platform called Musiversal, which I discovered had orchestral services available. This led me to the Budapest Symphony Orchestra (BSO), a top-notch ensemble renowned for its collaborations with major film studios. The process of hiring the orchestra was surprisingly straightforward—after filling out a request form detailing our project, I eagerly awaited their response.
The Logistics of Hiring an Orchestra
When Musiversal got back to me, they requested a score or demo of the strings to provide an accurate estimate for our session. Since I didn’t have a formal score yet, I sent them our current recording. The response was that we could book a 20-minute session for just over $850—a steal for such a prestigious orchestra! After discussing the budget with Quinn and receiving her approval, it was time to prepare the music for notation.
The Notation Process
Notating music for an orchestra is a meticulous and detail-oriented task. To ensure everything was up to professional standards, I had to adhere to the notation guidelines provided by Musiversal. This involved using professional notation software, as simply printing from my DAW would not suffice.
Having a background as a composer and arranger, I was familiar with the notation process. I opened both my DAW (Logic Pro) and notation software (Finale) to cross-check my work meticulously. Any mistake in the score could lead to time lost during the recording session, and with only 20 minutes allocated, every second mattered.
Preparing for the Recording Session
After several rounds of revisions, I finally completed the initial draft of the score. It was incredibly satisfying to see the music come together visually. I spent additional hours adding expression details, articulations, dynamics, and other nuances to ensure that the musicians would have clear instructions during the recording.
Just a week before the session, I received an email from Musiversal stating that the BSO would be unavailable but offered to bump us up to the Czech National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) at no extra cost. This was an unexpected but welcome development, as the CNSO is another highly regarded ensemble.
Final Preparations
As the session approached, I meticulously prepared all the necessary files, including the score, parts, and audio stems. I submitted these to Musiversal for their review. The anticipation was palpable as I awaited confirmation that everything was in order.
Finally, the day of the recording arrived, scheduled for 5 AM my time, as the session would take place in Prague. I would attend the session remotely via Zoom, a modern but nerve-wracking experience.
The Recording Day: A Mix of Excitement and Nerves
Waking up at 4:35 AM, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. What if I didn’t know how to communicate effectively during the session? What if something went wrong? These thoughts swirled in my mind as I prepared for the Zoom call.
After resolving some initial technical difficulties, I was patched in and could finally hear the orchestra. As they began to play the first notes of "Work You Begun," I was overwhelmed with emotion. It was surreal to witness the culmination of all our hard work manifesting before me.
The Recording Process
The session was intense, with the orchestra diving right into the recording. I provided notes in real time, asking them to adjust dynamics and bring out certain instruments more prominently. We recorded three full takes, and I was grateful for the musicians’ professionalism and skill. With just 25 seconds left in our 20-minute slot, we wrapped up the session.
Afterward, I felt a rush of gratitude and disbelief. The opportunity to collaborate with such talented musicians was a dream come true, and I eagerly anticipated sharing the results with Quinn.
The Aftermath: Receiving the Final Tracks
Once the session concluded, I received an email with the audio files from the recording. To my astonishment, there were 144 audio files in total! I quickly began downloading and organizing them in my DAW. The initial mix they provided was already sounding incredible, and I could hardly contain my excitement.
As I prepared to present the music to Quinn, I decided to remove her vocal tracks so we could focus solely on the orchestration for this preview. I was anxious yet thrilled to finally share the fruits of our labor.
Quinn's Reaction: A Moment to Remember
When it was time for Quinn to hear the results, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. We connected over a video call, and the energy was electric. As the orchestra began playing, I watched Quinn’s face transform with joy and amazement.
Her response was one of pure excitement: “This sounds like a Disney soundtrack but even better! It’s magical!” Her reaction validated all the hard work and sleepless nights, and I felt a sense of fulfillment that is hard to put into words.
Conclusion
The journey from conceptualizing a song to recording it with a top orchestra was fraught with challenges but equally rich in rewards. This experience not only deepened my appreciation for orchestral music but also reinforced the importance of collaboration in the creative process. Working with Quinn and the talented musicians of the CNSO was a dream realized, and I am eager to continue exploring the limitless possibilities of music production.
As we move forward, I’m excited to share the final mixed version of "Work You Begun" with the world, knowing that it embodies the hard work, creativity, and passion that went into its creation. This project has been a testament to the magic that happens when artists dare to dream big and take risks, and I cannot wait for what lies ahead.