Orchestration Manuals Part 1

Brief guide to Adler, Piston, Del Mar, and Forsyth

Orchestration by Cecil Forsyth may be viewed for free on Google Books at: http://books.google.com/
Link through, then search for "forsyth orchestration" and click on the first selection

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Music

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• sam
• adler
• cecil
• forsyth
• walter
• piston
• norman
• del
• mar
• orchestration
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• treatise
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• instrumentation

[MaestroTJS]

Great videos, thanks for posting.

Two questions: do you know of the differences between Adler's versions? The 2002 one seems to be almost 300 pages longer than the 1982. (I saw the 1982 version on ebay for $5 and couldn't resist.)

I'm also curious if you think a score like Ravel's Bolero would be good as a study as well. Not much is going on EXCEPT various combinations of instruments, so you get to hear the same lines with different colours and an ever-increasing texture.

[OrchestrationOnline]

@TJS Both versions are perfectly usable. The 2002 addition attempts to address the changes in the way music is processed, and enlarges on certain topics. I myself use the older edition, and it is perfectly fine for what it is.

You may study Bolero, but be aware that no one piece can be the end-all work that teaches you everything you need to know. Study many many pieces, score in hand, from every period.

[TheClassicalSauce]

Thanks for the videos! I love music!

[MaestroTJS]

@OrchestrationOnline Thanks for your quick reply.

I did not mean to suggest using Bolero as an end-all work by any means! ;) I just thought it was a particularly unique example of music due to the repetitiousness of the notes but not the instruments used to play those notes. I'm drawing a blank thinking of another piece that is constructed the same way, because even pieces that are variations usually have more going on than a change of instrumentation.

[vox4pax]

Hi Thomas...would you consider listening to my piece on YouTube? I would greatly appreciate your comments. The link is found under "Old World Dance." I tried to send you the actual link, but got an error message. Many thanks!

[M0rganstudios]

haha I like the point about which section comes first in a book. In Nestico's book (The Complete Arranger), the saxes are first ^^

Saxes

Woodwinds

Brass

Rhythm (meaning electric guitar, piano, bass guitar, drum kit)

Percussion (traditional orchestral percussion)

Strings

Special purpose (harmonica, celesta, harp, various keyboard instruments)

[M0rganstudios]

The Adler was my book in college, really good. I also have the Sammy Nestico arranging book from before college. It's pretty interesting because he seems to come from more of a jazz point of view. For instance the saxes get a whole chapter rather than 2 pages ^^

[e5acf4]

I have reread Forsyth's book many times over the years - I love it!

[remedyz0802]

Thank you for this video! A true wealth of information. I definitely plan on AT LEAST getting the Adler and the Forsyth.

[mmcoopstar]

Thanks for posting. I Will be watching the other parts when i get the time :)