Was looking through the liner notes of Star Trek V then noticed the insert with names of the AFM folks. 123 names. I'm I right or wrong in assuming that that was not the actually size of the orchestra used? Different players used on different sessions? Also always wondered how this works with the players. Let's say 35 violins are needed. Who exactly calls (texts, e-mails sends smoke signals) the player and tells them to show up at such and such studio at such and such time? Their agent? A union rep? Ronald McDonald?
An orchestra contractor, like Sandy DeCrescent or Peter Rotter, is responsible to calling and setting appointments with the composer's preferred musicians for recording sessions.
Usually, the bigger cues are recorded first with the maximum amount of musicians... then for smaller scenes requiring less instruments, they bring in only the amount of players needed.