Essential Dictionary of Orchestration: Ranges, General Characteristics, Technical Considerations, Scoring Tips: The Most Practical and Comprehensive R ... Series) (The Essential Dictionary Series)

Although I am a musician, my knowledge of some orchestral instruments is patchy.I bought this book because I need to arrange computer MIDI and SoundFont files for real orchestral instruments for real people to play. I also need to score some piano and ensemble pieces for full orchestra.Instruments' ranges are very important. This book shows you what the written range of each instrument is is (i.e. the notes you'd write when you are scoring), and what the actual sounding range is - when writing for transposing instruments. Also covered, for each instrument, is the range that is practical vs. the range that is achievable usually only by the professional musician. This is excellent and makes a huge difference when you are scoring for schools and colleges vs. writing for very experienced players.This books indicates which ranges, of each instrument, convey what qualities (e.g. the use of adjectives like: dark, warm, focussed, bright, sonorous, nasal, Etc); in which range the instrument sounds best, where it is better combined with other instruments vs. where it should solo (and what with); what it's good for and what to avoid asking it to do.Characteristics of the ranges are covered right down to the string level. For example you will be told the characteristics of each of the cello's individual strings.The natural and artificial harmonics of strings are also covered in detail.The tips for scoring, which appear throughout the book, detail, for example, what [brass] pedal notes are reliable, what [strings'] double, and treble stops are feasible, what keys instruments prefer (e.g. Bb vs. A clarinet), what the musician decides and what the composer/arranger should decide - both in terms of choice of instrument and, for example, when to insist on spiccato or staccato; what clefs to use, when you should expect to change clef; which instruments prefer ledger lines, which don't, when to use 8va and so on.Percussion is covered in depth, and room has been found for the inclusion of non-traditional orchestral instruments such as bagpipes and electric guitars.If you have an insatiable appetite for in-depth knowledge of, and insider tips on, orchestral instruments then you should buy this book. It is physically small (approx. 10.5 x 14 cm), but don't let that put you off. It is brilliantly written and beautifully and consistently typeset.As a musician and composer I recommend this book to you.

I purchased this book as a gift for my Grandma, and I think she’s going to love it! It’s a lot smaller than I had expected (it fits in my small sized adult hand!) so make sure you read the description and check the measurements!

This little handy book is very useful if your composing and covers many technical aspect of each instrument indicating the range(s), the different styles of play and what (obviously very general and subjective) instruments go well with another or what setup. It doesn' t have any pictures, but its written easy to understand and inspiring to flick through for ideas. Very handy and practical

This little book (14cm x 10.5cm) is packed full of information that is really useful when a composer is orchestrating a composition. It uncovers the mysteries of string bowing for non-string players and delves into the most remarkable set of different instruments - over 150 from the string, woodwind, brass and percussion families..There are full details of the pitch, range and power of each instrument and describes any transposition required. If you wish to include a heckelphone (a form of bass oboe) a mellophonium (alto horn) or an almglocken (a set of swiss cowbells) this little book is for you.It loses a star because all the information needed is there but it is so succinctly summarised it is tricky to unravel and nuderstand. Maybe this is down to my advancing years!

If you're a serious orchestrator, then you're going to be reading Rimsky Korsakov's treatise on orchestration. Most of us do. But this little book, about the size of a pocket dictionary, will keep you company for a long time. It goes into some detail (despite its size) and the layout is very clean and easy to read. Absolutely essential for the student.

I am delighted with this little pocket size book. It is full of essential facts about every instrument in the orchestra which is exactly what I was looking for. The printing is clear which really surprised me as it is a small book and I will benefit from having it in my collection. The delivery was quick, thank you.

It's a little treasure trove of information, this. Even if you're unlikely to need to notate all the instruments in here you (assuming you're interested in the mechanics of music and orchestration of course) will probably find yourself dipping in and out of this little book out of curiosity.The only downside is the book itself is a little flimsy - the glue in the spine of mine is already cracking and the pages are becoming loose. Nevertheless, can't fault it for content.

What I didn't realise was just how small the book would be. That's the only downside. Packed with lots of important and useful info for amateur composers.

Accurate, affordable, and handy size to fit in my workspace. I use it all of the time to check my orchestrations.

Um livro prático, completo e conciso.

pratico ed efficente

Bra lite bok om hur orkesterns olika instrument fungerar och deras omfång. Info om skriven not och hörd not.

Was great thank u