Few orchestral works are as rich and emotionally expansive as Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams. To bring this masterpiece to life with virtual instruments demands not only high-quality samples, but a deep understanding of balance, articulation, and spatial dimension.
In this new performance, Leandro Gardini demonstrates the expressive potential of Samplemodeling Strings, crafting a moving rendition of the piece using a custom setup that combines Ensemble, Chamber, and Solo strings — all from within the Samplemodeling ecosystem.
To complement the performance, Leandro walks us through his programming and orchestration choices in a dedicated tutorial — the first in a new series exploring how to take Samplemodeling Strings to the next level.
🎯 Key Takeaways from the Tutorial
Layered ensemble approach: Leandro builds each string section using three layers — Ensemble, Chamber, and Solo — all part of Samplemodeling Strings. Each layer contributes a unique role: depth, presence, and clarity.
Divisi simulation: Inspired by Vaughan Williams’ original orchestration, the layers are organized into Session A and Session B, emulating the distributed writing typical of divided string parts.
Spatial separation: Each layer is positioned with care — solos are placed closer for definition, chambers at a medium distance, and full ensembles farther away to create width and depth.
Mixing philosophy: Rather than relying on aggressive EQ or heavy effects, Leandro emphasizes natural balance, subtle use of reverb, careful volume adjustments, and body IR variation to shape the overall sound.
Creative use of CCs: He leverages key MIDI controls like distance, ensemble size, body IR, reverb send, and bow noise to shape articulation and space — all while maintaining realism and musicality.
This is a rich and insightful look into how to maximize the flexibility of Samplemodeling Strings through thoughtful layering and spatial planning.
👉 Want to go further?
Check out our next post, where Leandro explores how to shape short articulations like spiccato, staccato, and marcato for maximum realism using Samplemodeling Strings.
