TromboneChat

NOT trombone related.

I'm looking for general books on composing and arranging for commercial music. Books that are more like reference books that have all the nuts and bolts of the instruments: ranges, sweet spots, transpositions, things they can and can't do, techniques for writing and voicing particular instruments or sections, and vocal arranging.

I went to Dick Grove's school for film scoring 44 years ago, but of course not using that info has made it all slip away. I'm starting to write again, and I'd just like nuts and bolts info, I don't need theory or practice books. I don't need to build 12-tone rows. I just need basics to refer to when I have a question.

Genres are commercial and jazz.

What do you know of that might be helpful?

Thanks!

How about Bill Russo's Jazz Composition and Orchestration?

I used to have a copy of it, but it was lost in a move or on a loan or something.

Russ Garcia.

$25

tbdana wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2024 2:22 pm Books that are more like reference books that have all the nuts and bolts of the instruments: ranges, sweet spots, transpositions, things they can and can't do, techniques for writing and voicing particular instruments or sections, and vocal arranging.

Much of those subjects are not really composition in modern terms, but orchestration.

https://orchestrationonline.com/resources/books/

How about Dick Grove's Arranging Concepts (1972)?

I use, and have studied, all of these, but for sheer information and technical information, I go to Blatter (which I highly recommend):

https://composerfocus.com/top-5-orchestration-books/

Sammy's book is always where to start. "The Complete Arranger"
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Arrange ... 1502745119

I am a fan of the Don Sebesky book

https://juilliardstore.com/products/con ... er-00-1479

Also if you can get your hands on Henry Mancini sounds and scores… it also is an incredible bit of information packed with his very stylized approach. Watching the written music go by while listening to the recorded examples (that sound so purely Mancini!) is truly a joy… Just a lot of fun… Regardless of what it is we are trying to do with our craft. It’s amazing how he gets so much vibe out of an ensemble with such a seemingly simple approach

I think the Sebesky book will fit your needs more (though I feel encourages a wee bit of overwriting ha ha ha) but the Mancini book is a freaking blast.