123 Instrument Combinations —
Every Blend, Catalogued.
When you sit down to score a passage, the question isn't just “what instrument?” — it's “what blend?” The Combinations catalog is searchable by timbre, mood, dynamic range, and ensemble, so you find the right sound fast.
Instrument Combinations — searchable catalog
The horn blends with strings more seamlessly than any other brass instrument — its natural resonance sits in the mid-register sweet spot of violin and viola. Used by Brahms, Wagner, and Mahler for nobility without aggression.
How the Catalog Works
123 Combinations
Two-voice, three-voice, and chamber ensemble combinations covering every pairing in the standard orchestra.
Search by Timbre & Mood
Filter by character: bright, dark, warm, nasal, metallic. Filter by mood: lyrical, heroic, introspective, triumphant.
Dynamic Range Labels
Every combination is tagged with its effective dynamic range — so you don't write a pp blend that requires fff to project.
Repertoire Links
Each combination links to real passages in the standard repertoire where you can hear it in context.
Era Context
Combinations are tagged by the historical era in which they were most characteristic — Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern.
Balance Guidance
Practical notes on register, voicing, and spacing to make the combination work at any dynamic level.
123 combinations. The reference you reach for mid-score.
Included with every Gradus subscription alongside the full Orchestration Library.