-
By Instrumentation
Books on Music
-
-
-
Accessories
|
|
|
|
| 
 enlarge | Authors: Kent Kennan, Donald Grantham
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Category: Book
List Price: $124.20
Buy New: $99.33
You Save: $24.87 (20%)
New (17) Used (10) from $96.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 25678
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 6
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 414
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.2
ISBN: 0130771619
Dewey Decimal Number: 781
EAN: 9780130771612
ASIN: 0130771619
Publication Date: May 3, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Brand New Book 6TH US edition. Same as Amazon.com description.
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Good basic text, but needs some updating September 25, 2006
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
I have taught Orchestration/Instrumentation three times using this book, and find it has its strengths and weaknesses. The practical information about each instrument--such as ranges, typical scorings, and excerpts--are helpful, and I think Kennan really focuses on what an arranger/orchestrator *needs* to know. I also like some of the accompanying examples/excercises in the workbook, which can save preparation time. On the negative side, there are numerous typos in the workbook that still haven't been changed through multiple editions, the photos are quite dated, saxophone is included in a chapter called "Infrequently Used Instruments" (perhaps in the orchestra, but not in band music, the subject of some discussion in the book), and some of the discussions are confusing for students (string harmonics, to take one example). While the CD is helpful for hearing subtle differences in orchestration, the orchestra is out of tune in several places and the sound quality is somewhat poor.
Overall, I think Kennan's book is good for the beginning orchestration student, with lots of practical information and exercises, but I wish that some of its more problematic aspects could be changed or updated.
 A wonderful text for study and reference with a very useful CD March 14, 2006
20 out of 20 found this review helpful
We used the second edition of this book when I was an undergraduate studying music theory. I loved that book and have always had it on my shelf as a reference for correct transpositions, ranges, and all the little things one needs to know to write correctly for an instrument. When I read through this edition I was simply blown away. You know how you can get attached to an older edition and not want to give it up because the improvements don't overcome the familiarity? Well, the sixth edition clearly obsoletes my trusty old friend.
The book still has the same general format in considering each family of instruments together and has all the good information of the previous editions. However, there is more information, better photographs, improved explanations, well chosen examples, great suggested readings, listenings, and assignments. And the included CD has over 90 short examples of the sounds any orchestrator needs to have in his or her mind when putting pen to paper (or pointing a mouse to the staff on a computer). The first few dozen are different versions of the same two measures of the Bach chorale designated in the book so the student can compare a variety of ways to set that four part chorale for various families of instruments (strings, woodwinds, brass, and in various combinations). Then several dozen orchestral chords of various combinations are provided. Every example is designated in the book and explicitly identified on the CD.
The appendices are also quite useful and contain ready references on ranges and specialized considerations. I especially appreciate the addition of vocal ranges since it is quite common to use voices with orchestras.
This is a terrific text for students, for teachers because the information is so well presented, and for reference after school. Heck, if all you do is read orchestral scores while listening to music, this book can be most helpful in helping you understand the instruments you are hearing and their transpositions.
Most wonderfully done.
Best orchestration text available August 5, 2005
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
Few books are useful in learning to write music. This is one of the rare few. I first got acquainted with the book a quarter century ago, and have been using it ever since. The book assumes basic competence in music performance and theory. The necessary information about the various instruments is provided simply and accessibly -- e.g., where the timbre breaks occur on the clarinet, how to figure out if a particular triple-stop can be fingered on the viola, etc. There is also useful guidance in writing for sections and other combinations of instruments, although nothing can replace a good set of ears and numerous years of orchestral or band playing time for learning that particular skill. Kennan helpfully distinguishes what is practical and idiomatic (what an ordinarily competent player can be expected to be able to do) from what is possible (what the best players might be able to pull off on a good day). Thus, this book should be useful for everything from making high school band arrangements to writing for professional orchestras.
An outstanding classical guide July 12, 2005
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
This book is as exquisite as accessible, easy to use. It has fantastically illustrating score samples, tips on suggested listening, excellent instrument pictures, totally wonderfully detailed hints for arrangement works and other details in abundance. The CD is a lucky shot!
Dag Lundin
Excellent beginner's textbook and overall reference August 20, 2002
46 out of 47 found this review helpful
(6th Ed.) Although I've played classical piano for a long time, I'm a beginner in this aspect of music. This book provides a fantastic, detailed survey of the entire symphony orchestra for those who don't know an English horn from an oboe; however, it seems like it's one of those handy books you will refer back to for a very long time: - basic introduction to various configurations of orchestras
- all the instruments individually described & photographed
- idiosyncracies, limits, abilities of each instrument
- the realistic note ranges of each instrument
- scoring for sections (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion)
- excerpts from real scores demonstrate techniques
- some important aspects of color/blend/orch.texture
- arranging for school orchestras, smaller groups
- contains small suggested assignments and listening refs. Personally, I am using it as a reference for working with a sampler-based orchestra, to give me better insight towards creating more realistic arrangements and mockups.
|
|
|
| |
