before any of the sustained strings were added I would always use this combo for a vaguely orchestra-like sound:
Scifi w/ nova reverb and instrument volume about half of the default
ragtime piano w/ miasma reverb and volume just a smidge above the default
scifi: play and repeat the chord you want on some time interval that sounds good to you (e.g. every half note)
rag piano: play the notes of that chord one at a time (arpeggiate it) twice as fast (e.g. every quarter note)
you can also throw in some large reverb pizzicato if you want but it's not necessary.
here's a sequence where it's used:
Scifi w/ nova reverb and instrument volume about half of the default
ragtime piano w/ miasma reverb and volume just a smidge above the default
scifi: play and repeat the chord you want on some time interval that sounds good to you (e.g. every half note)
rag piano: play the notes of that chord one at a time (arpeggiate it) twice as fast (e.g. every quarter note)
you can also throw in some large reverb pizzicato if you want but it's not necessary.
here's a sequence where it's used:
Local rocket man