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Topic: Good books on orchestration  (Read 1828 times)

Offline Bob

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Good books on orchestration
on: July 07, 2007, 07:33:09 PM
Know of any?

I know the Rimsky Korsakov (sp?) one is good.

Any moore?
Favorite new teacher quote -- "You found the only possible wrong answer."

Offline mcgillcomposer

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Re: Good books on orchestration
Reply #1 on: July 08, 2007, 05:13:45 AM
Know of any?

I know the Rimsky Korsakov (sp?) one is good.

Any moore?
For a more modern approach (there are a lot of things in the Rimsky that don't apply anymore because of the way instruments have changed) check out Samuel Adler's book on orchestration.

Also, there is an annotated version of the Rimsky that is VERY helpful and available online:
https://www.northernsounds.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=77

Finally, there is a wonderful book on artistic orchestration written by Alan Belkin; however, to get any use out of it, you really have to have mastered the basic craftsmanship of orchestration...the type any good orchestrator has. This book is also online:

https://www.musique.umontreal.ca/personnel/Belkin/bk.o/index.html
Asked if he had ever conducted any Stockhausen,Sir Thomas Beecham replied, "No, but I once trod in some."

Offline mikey6

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Re: Good books on orchestration
Reply #2 on: July 09, 2007, 12:54:20 AM
Walter Piston has one me thinks,
The book Ravel used was apparently very good but I don't think it's around anymore.
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Offline furtwaengler

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Re: Good books on orchestration
Reply #3 on: July 09, 2007, 04:47:35 AM
In addition to these, Norman Del Mar's book, "Anatomy of the Orchestra" is very informative and a good read. 

https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Orchestra-Norman-Del-Mar/dp/0520050622
Don't let anyone know where you tie your goat.

Offline mcgillcomposer

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Re: Good books on orchestration
Reply #4 on: July 10, 2007, 07:49:05 PM
In case you didn't pick-up the reference in Belkin's book, Koechlin's four-volume work on orchestration is probably the best out there.
Asked if he had ever conducted any Stockhausen,Sir Thomas Beecham replied, "No, but I once trod in some."
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