Grand Cimbalom

No cinematic samples library is complete without this idiosyncratic Eastern European instrument. The large hammered grand cimbalom played by Greg Knowles.

The Grand Cimbalom collection features one of the finest players in London playing one of the finest instruments in the world, each performance displaying a life and character rarely found in sample libraries. The great Jake Jackson supervised the entirety of these sessions at œair studios in a spatially sound environment. Only the finest tube and ribbon mics were used on these sessions, and the signal path includes Bespoke Neve Monserrat pre-amps passed to the world' largest Neve 88r desk, finally finding a home on meticulously maintained 2 tape. The conversion is accomplished with 96k 24bit Digital Prism A/D.

The cimbalom is a concert hammered dulcimer: a type of chordophone composed of a large, trapezoidal box with metal strings stretched across its top. It is a musical instrument popularized in Hungary and commonly found throughout central and eastern Europe. The cimbalom is played by striking two beaters against the strings. The steel treble strings are arranged in groups of 4 and are tuned in unison. The bass strings which are over-spun with copper, are arranged in groups of 3 and are also tuned in unison.

The cimbalom has been used in many film scores over the years famously John Barry used it in the title theme for the film The Ipcress File, as well as in the main theme of the 1971 TV series The Persuaders!. But it's most famous, and coolest use was probably on the 1994 Portishead track "Sour Times." An example of how the instrument can be used as a mournful exotic sound not just its often stereotypical use against East European backdrops, spy intrigue and cold war thrillers.

Aside from being an amazing featured or solo instrument. It is also great as a textural element; doubling pianos and other tuned percussion instruments, it's particularly interesting in unison with pizzicato passages. A fantastic new color for your palette and with this level of deep sampling, something that can sit proud and exposed in your mixes and honestly and realistically express the emotion of your composition.