Product details
What’s included
Studio orchestra
- Chords (Common)
- Chords (Maj)
- Chords (Min)
- Chords (Other)
- FX 1 (Expand Contract Clusters)
- FX 2 (Cluster Stabs)
- FX 3 (Slides Up And Down)
- FX 4 (Slides Up And Down Strings Only)
- FX 5 (Cluster Swells)
- FX 6 (Chatter)
- Long
- Short
High strings
- Long nv/v/mv
- Long CS nv/v
- Long div by desk normale/CS nv/v
- Long Sul Pont
- Long CS Sul Pont
- Long Sul Tasto
- Long Harmonics
- Long Flautando
- Long Marcato Attack
- Tremolo
- Tremolo CS
- Tremolo Sul Pont
- Tremolo CS Sul Pont
- Trills (Min2, Maj2, Min3, Maj3, Perf4)
- Short Spiccato
- Short Spiccato CS
- Brushed Spiccato
- Brushed Spiccato CS
- Short 0’5
- Short 1’0
- Pizzicato
- Short Harmonics
- Pizzicato Bartok
- Col Legno
High strings octaves
- Legato (fingered, portamento)
- Long nv/v/mv
- Long CS nv/v
- Tremolo
- Trill (Min2, Maj2)
- Short Spiccato
High strings half section
- Legato (fingered, portamento)
- Long nv/v/mv
- Long CS nv/v
- Long Flautando
- Tremolo
- Tremolo Sul Pont
- Short Spiccato
- Short Spiccato CS
- Pizzicato
- Short 0’5
- Short Harmonics
- FX 1 (Cluster Slides)
- FX 2 (Cluster Stabs)
- FX 3 (Chatter)
- FX 4 (Cluster Swells)
Low strings
- Legato (fingered)
- Long nv/v/mv
- Long CS nv/v
- Long Sul Pont
- Long CS Sul Pont
- Long Flautando
- Long Harmonics
- Long Marcato Attack
- Tremolo
- Tremolo CS
- Tremolo Sul Pont
- Tremolo CS Sul Pont
- Short Spiccato
- Pizzicato
- Short Bartok
- Col Legno
- FX 1 (Cluster Slides)
- FX 2 (Chatter)
- FX 3 (Cluster Swells)
Low strings and horns
- Long
- Long CS
- Short
- Col Legno/Stopped
Low strings and trombones
- Legato
- Long
- Long CS
- Long CS Sul Pont
- Tremolo
- Short
- Short CS Sul Pont
Piccolo and flutes
- Legato
- Long (nv/v)
- Short
Concert flutes
- Legato
- Long (nv/v)
- Short
- Trill (Min2, Maj2)
- Long Flutter
- FX 1 (Rips)
- FX 2 (Upper Mordent Major)
- FX 3 (Upper Mordent Minor)
Mixed flutes
- Legato
- Long (nv/v)
- Short
- Trill (Min2, Maj2)
- Long Flutter
- Chords (Common)
- Chords (Maj)
- Chords (Min)
- Chords (Other)
- FX 1
- FX 2
Flutes and clarinets
- Legato
- Long (nv/v)
- Long (Octave)
- Short
- Short (Octave)
- Trill (Min2, Maj2)
Low winds
- Legato
- Long
- Long (Octave)
- Short
- Short (Octave)
Cor anglais, clarinet and trumpet
- Long (nv/v)
- Short
- Trill (Min2, Maj2)
- FX (Chatter)
Oboes, bassoons and horns
- Long (nv/v)
- Short
- FX
Trumpet and xylophone
- Long
- Short
- Short Muted
- Long (Octave)
- Short (Octave)
- Short Muted (Octave)
Horns
- Long (mf,ff)
- Short (mf,ff)
- Chords (Common)
- Chords (Maj)
- Chords (Min)
- Chords (Other)
Mid brass
- Long (nv)
- Short
- FX 1 (Chatter)
- FX 2 (Falls)
Trombones
- Long (nv)
- Long Muted (nv)
- Short
- Short Muted
Trombones and timpani
- Long
- Short
Harp and celeste
- Long
- Short
- Chords (Common)
- Chords (Maj)
- Chords (Min)
- Chords (Other)
Harp and vibraphone
- Long
- Long Bowed
- Short (Vibes On)
- Short (Vibes Off)
- Short Hotrods (Vibes Off)
- Chords (Common)
- Chords (Maj)
- Chords (Min)
- Chords (Other)
Ondes martenot
- Long Ondes
- Long Ondes Gong
- Long Ondes Tutti
- Long Ondes Wind Strings
- Short
- FX 1 (Trills)
- FX 2 (Birds)
- FX 3 (Clangers 1)
- FX 4 (Clangers 2)
- FX 5 (Clangers 3)
Percussion
- Anvil
- Bass Drum
- Bongos
- Bowed Cymbals
- Brake Disks
- Claves
- Congas
- Cymbals
- Exhaust Pipe
- Lion Roar
- Ogororo
- Quica
- Snare Drum (brushes)
- Snare Drum (snares off)
- Snare Drum (snares on)
- Steel Plate
- Temple Block
- Timbales
- Trash Can
- Woodblock
Timpani
- Hits Sustained
- Hits Damped
- Hits Super Damped
- Rolls
- Soft Stick – Hits Sustained
- Soft Stick – Hits Damped
- Soft Stick – Rolls
- Hot Rods – Hits Sustained
- Hot Rods – Hits Damped
Synths
- Aggressive Pulse Bass
- Aggressive Pulse Pad
- Belly Of The Deep
- Cheese Bass
- Cheesy Lead
- Clockwork Pulse
- Detune Square Bass
- Detune Square Lead
- Eyeball Pad
- Flute 1
- Flute 2
- Flute Sweep
- Galactic Pad
- Herrmann Detune
- Hollow Bass Sustain
- Hollow Bass
- Obie Bass
- Propa Bass
- Propa Sub 1
- Propa Sub 2
- Propa Sub 3
- Raucous Sweller
- Sci Fi Sweep
- Soft Pulse
- Soft Sub Bass
- Space Bass Sustain
- Space Bass
- Space Lasers
- Square Pad
- Square Sound
- Squelch Pulse Bass
- Squelchy Moog
- Sub Bass
- Triangle Pad
- Weird Noises (FX)
- Wind
- Wobbles In Space
Orchestral innovation inspired by a legend
Spitfire’s first dry scoring stage ensemble, inspired by the eclectic genius of Bernard Herrmann. Renowned for his groundbreaking scores including Citizen Kane, Psycho, Vertigo and Taxi Driver, his legacy continues to inspire the work of composers today.
We’ve worked exclusively with Bernard Herrmann’s estate to curate and assemble a unique set of studio orchestra ensembles, informed directly by the composer’s legendary orchestration aesthetic. Recorded at Studio One, AIR Studios by renowned engineer Simon Rhodes (Avatar, Spectre, Harry Potter, There Will Be Blood), we’ve captured players performing as Herrmann would have chosen – boisterous, lively and upfront, with patches featuring selected groups, unusual instrumental combinations, chords, effects and much more. Fire up this versatile toolkit for lively and distinctive scoring.
Lively & distinctive scoring
This isn’t an ‘old style’ library. After working closely with the Herrmann estate to examine his most famous scores and understand what makes his work so special, we set about curating a unique series of recording sessions in order to develop a modern library that captures the levels of vitality that you’d expect from a Herrmann score, which works across various genres and projects.
Recorded at AIR Studios, Studio One, this toolkit packs an almighty punch; it offers a studio orchestra, combinations such as trumpet and xylophone, trombones and timpani, low strings and horns, harp and vibraphone, plus an Ondes Martenot, synths, percussion, timpani and much more.
A true innovator
Bernard Herrmann is one of the great modern composers. His work for TV and film is nothing short of iconic, and is synonymous with mid-20th Century cinema. Collaborating with Orson Welles on Citizen Kane, Martin Scorsese on Taxi Driver, and in long-term partnership with Alfred Hitchcock for scores such as Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds, Marnie and beyond, the sheer magnitude of critical works produced is breathtaking. Not only did his work cause significant impact on culture at the time, but more recently those works have been used to invigorate contemporary scores, namely the use of the Twisted Nerve theme in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill — an eerie whistle, now instantly recognisable worldwide.
Herrmann had a unique and trailblazing compositional style. His orchestrations were entirely original, daring and inventive; always appropriate for the context and subsequently incredibly influential in film scoring. Psycho is an obvious example of a totally new way to score a thriller. The bold selection of specific instrumental ensembles (his Psycho score was famed for being strings-only, and the infamous Torn Curtain featured 12 flutes) and choice of interesting combinations (harp and vibraphone in Vertigo, stopped horns and pizzicato strings in North by Northwest) challenged the status quo. Equally his experimentation of electronic instruments in scores was pioneering – the Ondes Martenot in The Day The Earth Stood Still and amplified Moog synths in Sisters/Endless Nights brought previously unheard sounds to cinemas. He also went as far as to effect change in the performance style of players, requesting that players not play in the traditional, somewhat overblown nature that other Hollywood composers would traditionally employ.
Herrmann had a limitless curiosity and love of new music, championing the careers of several composers who became household names as a result of his hard work. His work as conductor of the CBS Symphony Orchestra, and the many radio broadcasts he made with them, helped to bring a huge variety of music to a wide audience. His was a truly individual voice, standing firm against what he saw as the dilution of the art form, and he continues to be massively respected and influential among film composers today.
When the opportunity arose for Spitfire Audio to collaborate with his estate, we were beyond excited. We hope to have developed a unique library that provides working composers with a broad variety of new sounds and possibilities, rooted in the genius of Herrmann and his approach to film scoring.
Bernard Herrmann’s ‘The Murder’ from Psycho:
MiaStar –
This toolkit really captures that classic Bernard Herrmann sound, and the variety of instruments and sounds is fantastic!
Ethan Ryder –
This toolkit has truly elevated my composing game – the sounds are so unique and inspiring, I find myself reaching for it every time I sit down to write music.
Ethan Ryder –
This toolkit is a game-changer for any composer – the sounds are incredibly authentic and easy to manipulate.
Lila Finch –
This toolkit is a game-changer for composers – the sounds are so dynamic and authentic, it’s like having a full orchestra at your fingertips. Worth every penny!