McCrum wrote: "I don't think numbers of violins is merely a matter of budget. Six violins has a different feel to 20. In any passage one can use as many as is apt. If you're down to two staves I just don't know how they do it. I think people like John Morgan often have to build up reconstructions from just three or five line scores, and one has the impression from their notes on CDs it can be a tough task."

Generally the budget defines the orchestra size, and the size determines how many instruments of each type. In the 'thirties and forties a 40 piece "theater" orchestra (probably so named after the silent pit orchestra) recording a film session would include 12 violins: 6 first, 6 second. A standard concert symphonic orchestra usually has around 30 violins - but the total orchestra size expands to around 97 or more. You're correct, you can't simply add extra violins because it will change the character of the sound.

When John Morgan reorchestrates from the composer's sketch he's orchestrating for a symphonic sized orchestra, not just recording with extra strings, as we've heard in many other re-recordings.