Principles of Orchestration

Rating:
Summary: A Classic in Orchestration
Review: I own some of the great books of orchestration, say, those by Pistons, Adler and Forsyth, but this book certainly is the best of the best. This is not a book about instrumentation (general information as range, articulations, characteristics, notation), rather it concentrates aspects such as resonance, register, doublings, combination of instrumental colors, as well as information about the chorus. These are the points that need to be considered in the course of orchestration. A well-organized book, with many orchestral excerpts drawn from Korsakov's own works. It is very useful for any orchestrators to understand the principles the author said.

Rating:
Summary: of historical interest
Review: I'm giving this four stars instead of three for sentiment's sake. It is probably invaluable for a Rimsky-Korsakov scholar, but...well, let me put it this way: I've owned the book for nearly a decade, and I never, ever use it. For sound practical advice I can do no better than recommend Walter Piston's ORCHESTRATION and Cecil Forsyth's ORCHESTRATION.

Also recommended: THE LYDIAN-CHROMATIC CONCEPT OF TONAL ORGANIZATION by George Russell.

Rating:
Summary: Do Not Buy This Book
Review: Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov might have written some cheesy tone poems, meandering symphonies and mostly forgotten operas (at least outside Russia), but he also could play an orchestra like your Uncle Billy could play a wazoo. Along with Mahler, Wagner, Debussy and Ravel, he is one of the finest orchestrators who ever lived. When his ideas work fully, he has no equal in producing in thrilling, balanced sound. He also taught Stravinsky a thing or two as well, so he wasn't a bad teacher either. This book will show you that as well. Rimsky's ideas might be old-fashioned and perhaps using his own music as examples, is a little arrogant, but when you're good enough, how can you argue?

Rating:
Summary: Good Reference Book
Review: One of the few Orchestration books that not only discusses the technique of the art, but also the emotional and psychological effect of instrumentation. The translation of the original text is well done. I always keep this book close by.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: One of the few Orchestration books that not only discusses the technique of the art, but also the emotional and psychological effect of instrumentation. The translation of the original text is well done. I always keep this book close by.

Rating:
Summary: Sound Like Rimsky-Korsakov...maybe
Review: Rimsky-Korsakov was probably the greatest orchestrator to have ever lived. His aptitude and knowledge is vast and is apparent in many of his students,most notably Ravel and Stravinsky. It is unfortunate that he was not quite as great at composition then he was orchestration.

Though Stravinsky's works seem to be more colorful, one must keep in mind the differences in style and instruments...most importantly, Stravinksy was far superior in composition to Rimsky-Korsakov.

It is fortunate to see that there are two masterpieces by Rimsky-Korsakov that exhibit the epitome of his orchestration genius: Scheherazade and Capricio Espanol.

It must be noted that though there are several more modern books on orchestrations (most notably Forsyth and Piston), this book can be useful and entertaining...he was a great a teacher.

Rating:
Summary: Sound Like Rimsky-Korsakov...maybe
Review: Rimsky-Korsakov was probably the greatest orchestrator to have ever lived. His aptitude and knowledge is vast and is apparent in many of his students,most notably Ravel and Stravinsky. It is unfortunate that he was not quite as great at composition then he was orchestration.

Though Stravinsky's works seem to be more colorful, one must keep in mind the differences in style and instruments...most importantly, Stravinksy was far superior in composition to Rimsky-Korsakov.

It is fortunate to see that there are two masterpieces by Rimsky-Korsakov that exhibit the epitome of his orchestration genius: Scheherazade and Capricio Espanol.

It must be noted that though there are several more modern books on orchestrations (most notably Forsyth and Piston), this book can be useful and entertaining...he was a great a teacher.

Rating:
Summary: This Work Is An Instrumentation/Orchestration Classic!
Review: Rimsky-Korsakov worked upon this work for over 30 years.The examples are from his own works.He originally planned to include examples from Glinka,Tschaikovsky, Borodin,and Glazounov.He did not to avoid notational and stylistic peculiarities.This is not primarily a notational work.It deals more with subjects such as resonance,timbre,register,and instrumental combinations and their various effects.He died before the work was published and many of the examples were chosen from his works by the editor Max Steinberg.The Principles,however,listed prior to example,remain untouched...and still do barring instrumental developments.These Principles could have just as easily been exemplified by the above four or many others.This book is a classic on "Principles Of Orchestration" and most certainly not obsessed with "Examples Of Orchestration".The laws are laid out in the former case.To any serious composer that is as it ought be!

Rating:
Summary: This is a great book
Review: This is without a doubt the greatest book on orchestration in my opinion; not only does it give you an insight on Rimsky-Korsakov's style, but also helps perfectly balance any mixture of instruments, and gives you almost all information on any instrument (that he had at the time) that you'll ever need. It is not only a book on orchestration, but a course on it.