Orchestral Tools Announces Svara – Indian Film Orchestra

Wield the expressive sounds of classic Bollywood strings and authentic Indian classical instruments

Orchestral Tools announces Svara, a vivid orchestral collection inspired by the scores of classic Bollywood films. Svara consists of a potent mix of authentic Bollywood strings and a curated collection of more than 30 classic Indian instruments to provide a rich tapestry of dramatic sonic potential within the modern scoring context.

The mix of familiar instrumentation with uniquely Indian timbres and playing styles captures the evocative collision between tradition and modernity that has defined the sonic output of Bollywood and inspired composers the world over.

An authentic tapestry of musical expressiveness

​Svara is the authentic representation of the sounds and playing styles of classic Indian film scoring with a modern sonic footprint. The Orchestral Tools team – working alongside long-time collaborator Richard Harvey, as well as Harvey’s preferred sound engineer Alex Lamy and South Asian composer and music director Albin Dominic – ​ traveled to Studio Uno in Chennai, India and drew upon an experienced pool of local musicians to capture the accurate sound and feel of the region. These players provided a rich tapestry of nuance in the sounds and performances that encapsulate both the classical traditions of these instruments as well as the contemporary context in which they are used in film scoring.

At its heart, Svara includes an expressively playable full string section with a solo violin, a 10-piece violin ensemble, and a 6-piece viola ensemble built upon the signature playing styles and articulations of Indian musicians. This includes unique legato sounds, sustains, and percussive techniques not found in traditional western orchestras as well as identifiable ornaments and phrases unique to the Indian musical tradition. A rich solo violin is also available for expressive lead playing. Accompanying the string section is a full collection of authentic Indian instruments including the Bansuri (bamboo flute), Santoor (hammered dulcimer), and Tanpura (drone instrument) as well as more familiar sounds like the Harmonium. Also included are a wide array of percussion instruments, including the Khol, Mridangam, Dhol, Dholak, Ghatam, Udu and Duff. Each percussion instrument comes with Single Hits articulation. All of them, except for the Tambourines, include Loops recorded in various BPM speeds and time signatures, offering diverse rhythmic ideas. All of these sounds are available in up to 7 mixable mic positions and have been captured at the highest quality for integration alongside any existing Orchestral Tools collection.

“Bollywood film scores are a uniquely vivid form of orchestral music that have some truly distinctive sounds and playing styles that are found nowhere else in the world,” says Orchestral Tools CEO Hendrik Schwarzer. “With Svara, we have created a taste of that sonic palette at a standard of authenticity and sound quality that we hope honors these traditions and inspires composers to explore more deeply a truly rich tapestry of musical expressiveness."

Svara is available now for an introductory price of 249 EUR.

For more information and to purchase Svara, please visit:









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