The Orchestra

Welcome to The Orchestra. This C++ application serves as an introductory guide for orchestral instruments! It is designed to help you explore and understand the diverse sounds and capabilities of orchestral instruments. Whether you're a newcomer to orchestration or an entry-level composer, this app provides a comprehensive overview of different instruments, with additional information such as

• their total range,
• their qualities or sub ranges,
• some historical context,
• the most common playing techniques and style,
• and examples of compositions where they are prominently featured.

Additionally, it includes basic sampling functionalities using a MIDI keyboard to enhance your learning experience. (Though not all instruments are available as of now)

Prerequisites

• C++ Compiler: Compatible with C++20 or higher.
• CMake: Version 3.15 or higher.
• Git: For cloning the repository.
• Python: Version 3.x (for running build.py).

Features

• Instrument Information: Detailed descriptions of various orchestral instruments, including their history, technical details, and roles in the orchestra.
• MIDI Sampling: Use a MIDI keyboard to listen to and experiment with the sounds of different instruments.
• Composition Examples: Examples of compositions featuring different instruments to illustrate their typical use cases and highlight their versatility.
• Continuous Updates: New features and instruments are regularly added as this project is still in development.

Getting Started

Cloning the Repository

Clone the repository including:

git clone git@github.com:Diversiam90815/TheOrchestra.git

Keep in mind that you also need to check out the submodules with this project. To do so, you can include --recurse-submodules within the clone command (with git version 2.13 or higher):

git clone --recurse-submdules git@github.com:Diversiam90815/TheOrchestra.git

or if you already cloned the repository call

git submodule update --init --recursive

Build Instructions

Prepare the Build Environment

Before building the project, you need to generate the necessary build files using CMake. This can be done using the build.py script with the --prepare or -p option. The target build configuration can be adjusted in the build.py file: Currently it is set to build a Visual Studio 2022 project.

cd TheOrchestra
python build.py -p

For a Debug build, add the --debug or -d option:

python build.py -pd

Build the Project

To build the project, use the --build or -b option:

python build.py -b

This will compile the project using the build files generated during the preparation step.

• Release Build: By default, the build is configured for a Release build.

• Debug Build: To build the project in Debug mode, include the --debug or -d option:

  python build.py -bd

Important: You do not need to run the --prepare step separately, the script will automatically prepare the build environment before building.

Running the Plugin

After a successful build, the application can be found in the build output directory. Currently, the app is set to build standalone executable binary. They can be found within the respective folder.

Roadmap

• Notation and Score Viewing: Add features for viewing and interacting with musical scores, including playback functionality, annotation capabilities, and synchronization with MIDI inputs for real-time score following.

Showcase

Image Preview

Demo Video

---

Thank you for using The Orchestra! I hope it helps you on your journey to mastering orchestration.