The Technique of Orchestration

by Kent Kennan, Donald Grantham

The Technique of Orchestration , Seventh Edition, is the definitive textbook on the study of orchestration, offering a concise, straight-to-the-point approach that prepares students to score their own compositions with confidence. Updated to reflect developments in instruments and orchestral best practices, this seventh edition New musical examples have been added throughout and listening lists have been revised to include more music by women and composers of color, representing a diverse musical catalogue. Supported by an accompanying workbook of scores and scoring exercises (available separately), as well as a robust listening program keyed to the textbook, The Technique of Orchestration , Seventh Edition, is an accessible, essential, all-in-one resource for the student of orchestration.

Genres: Music, Reference, Textbooks, Nonfiction

404 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Kent Kennan was an American composer, author, educator, and professor.

He learned to play the organ and the piano and received degrees in composition and music theory from the University of Michigan and the Eastman School of Music in composition and music theory. At the age of 23, he was awarded the Prix de Rome, which allowed him to study for three years in Europe, primarily at the American Academy in Rome.

Kennan was a longtime professor at the University of Texas at Austin, also teaching briefly at Kent State University and for two years at Ohio State University during the 1950s.

His compositions include works for orchestra, chamber ensemble and solo instrument as well as songs and choral music. His Sonata for Trumpet and Piano is part of the standard repertoire for many collegiate trumpet studios. His Night Soliloquy was written in 1936 and is set for solo flute, piano and strings. Kennan composed his last major work in 1956 at the age of 43 and largely abandoned composition, writing only occasional small pieces and devoting himself to teaching and educational writing.

His books Counterpoint and The Technique of Orchestration have been widely used as classroom texts.

On May 5, 1957, Howard Hanson and the Eastman-Rochester Orchestra recorded Kennan's Three Pieces for Orchestra, a work composed in Rome in 1936 and premiered in 1939 by Hanson and the Rochester orchestra.

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I use this book more than The Bible. It is not only a helpful reference, but with each edition, it details not only the capabilities of every instrument, but the explorations into the special effects that can be created by instruments. Plus, in the index, it has easy reference to instrument ranges, concert and "sounding" pitches, and even the range of a given instrument when played by a novice or an expert, making composition of middle school and high school band and orchestra music realistic. Hurray, Kent!

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise, well organized, and extremely useful.

[Gigi Qin · Rating 5 out of 5]

text

[Noam Hameiri‬‏ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is like my magic spell tome and I'm a mere composer-wizard.

I LOVE THIS BOOK SM❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Zungjung · Rating 5 out of 5]

หนังสือที่ช่วยทำให้ฉันเรียนจบและเขียนงานได้โอเคขึ้นจ้าาา (คิดว่าโอเคขึ้นนะ)
ใครเรียนดนตรี, คอนดั๊ก หรือสนใจเครื่องดนตรีก็อ่านเถิดครับ สาระ

[Floyd Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the premier books on Orchestration,
and I love it. It is so straightforward and helpful.

[Jonathan]

None

[Vincent Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instrumental layout through chapters and great explanation of uses and techniques.