Orchestral Music

Rating:
Summary: WARNING - Not a textbook!
Review: Any conductor needing information about the enormous repretoire available for orchestra must have this reference book. Many, many works are detailed in these pages - organized by composer, instrumentation, title. Also, handy index of composers by nationality and birthday/death anniversaries. If you wonder how many horns are needed to perform some symphony, or wonder if a work can be played without hiring extra percussionists, or just want ideas for future concerts, this book is a priceless resource. I think about how lucky I am to have come across this tome of information each time I open its pages - undoubtedly you will as well.

Rating:
Summary: WARNING - Not a textbook!
Review: Daniels has gone out of his way to create a comprehensive account of a massive and constantly expanding repertoire. This book, however is NOT intended to give program notes or an overview of the pieces. Rather, it's a barebones account of the basic information one would need to know in order to program or perform a piece. An example entry:

Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai Russian Easter overture, op. 36 (Grand Paque russe) *3 2 2 2--4 2 3 1--tmp+4--hp--str Belaieff Kalmus

While this is superb information to know as a conductor trying to develop a program, it will not be able to teach you anything about the piece.

The book is comprehensive and impressive. Buy it, keep it on your shelf.

Rating:
Summary: Yes it can be a textbook
Review: I have used this edition and previous ones in my graduate-level course on orchestra literature. I spend part of the course teaching my students how best to use the book (from my course perspective) as future orchestra conductors, music directors, and those who may have input in choosing repertoire for an orchestra season. Each edition has improved over the last, and I look forward to the next one. There's nothing else quite like it in this genre and I have appreciated the hard work that makes such a resource possible.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Have for Orchestra Conductors!
Review: This is a great book and a must have for all orchestral conductors. It lists instrumentation, timings, publishers, and other very important information for programming. It includes not only standard repertoire, but works by living composers as well. There is no other book like this I know of.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Have for Orchestra Conductors!
Review: This is a great book and a must have for all orchestral conductors. It lists instrumentation, timings, publishers, and other very important information for programming. It includes not only standard repertoire, but works by living composers as well. There is no other book like this I know of.