Stravinsky Stab Answer

[jazzy_dave]

Congrats to waitingman. Spot on.

The Stravinsky Stab is also known as the Orchestral Hit and became synonymous with eighties dance music by the use of a synthesiser or sequencer such as the Rowland and Fairlights. Based on the orchestra stabs in Stravinsky's Firebird Suite it is a short sample of a ‘tutti’-chord in classical orchestra pieces. To this day, it is used as a dramatical and percussive component in pop music. The Orchestra Hit is one of the most used samples and is included in almost every sample library in different variations.

Orchestra hit is defined in the General MIDI sound set. It is assigned voice 55, in the ensemble subgroup.
The Fairlight CMI synthesizer included a sampled orchestra hit voice, which was later included in many sample libraries. The voice was given the name ORCH5, and was possibly the first famous orchestra hit sample. The sound was a low-resolution, eight-bit digital sample from a recording of Stravinsky's Firebird Suite – specifically, the chord that opens the "Infernal Dance" section, pitched down a minor sixth and at a reduced speed. It was sampled by David Vorhaus. Music magazine The Wire suggests that the prototype sample is owned by Vivian Kubrick.


Infernal Dance of Kastchei from Firebird Suite

Some examples of that stab -


New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle

Janet Jackson - When I Think Of You

Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock

And there you have it. Stravinsky created modern pop music!