1st Edition

Contemporary Orchestration A Practical Guide to Instruments, Ensembles, and Musicians

By R.J. Miller Copyright 2015
    484 Pages
    by Routledge

    484 Pages
    by Routledge

    Contemporary Orchestration: A Practical Guide to Instruments, Ensembles, and Musicians teaches students how to orchestrate for a wide variety of instruments, ensembles, and genres, while preparing them for various real-world professional settings ranging from the concert hall to the recording studio. Unlike most orchestration texts, it includes coverage of contemporary instruments and ensembles alongside traditional orchestra and chamber ensembles.

    Features

    • Practical considerations: Practical suggestions for choosing a work to orchestrate, and what to avoid when writing for each instrument.
    • Pedagogical features
      • In the Profession: Professional courtesies, considerations and expectations.
      • Building the Score: Step-by-step construction of an orchestration.
      • Scoring Examples: Multiple scoring examples for each instrument.
      • Exercises: Analyzing, problem solving, and creating orchestration solutions.

    • Critical Thinking: Alternate approaches and solutions.

    1. Preliminary Considerations  2. Scores, Parts and Notation  3. Practical Problem Solving (A step-by-step guide through an analysis with a practical scoring solution)  4. The Violin Family  5. The Brass Family  6. The Woodwind Family  7. The Percussion Family  8. Voices  9. Harp  10. Guitar  11. Scoring for Orchestral Tutti  12. Overview of the Wind Ensemble/Concert Band Tutti  13. Scoring for Musical Theater  14. Instrument Substitution  15. Recommended Listening and Analysis  16. Parting Thoughts

    Biography

    RJ Miller has composed, orchestrated, arranged, conducted, and/or produced recordings with the London Philharmonic and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, and for such films as the digital re-release of the original The Last of the Mohicans and The Lost World. His credits appear on over 300 CDs, videos, film and television productions. His courses at the Metropolitan State University of Denver include Arranging and Orchestration, Arranging for Music Educators, and Scoring for Film and Television.