Anyone recommend any good books about Composition and so on?

Hay guys!

Im looking to buy some books in order to help me develop the knowledge and skill necesary to do orchestration, composition and symphonies and so on.

Pretty much anything that can help me organize myself into an approach that lets me develop the music i make into something really finished.

Idioms, motivic development, counterpoints and what not.

I am also interested in learning basic notation. Im not sure if its possible to do it properly the book-way but somehow im sure you can learn anything on your own, to be selftaught, without having to spend money and time on classes. After all, thats how i became a 3d artist in the first place.

Any of you guys know of any particular books that i can learn from?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

First of all, if you want to learn notation, buy some notation software. I learned it this way. After a year of using Finale I can now read notes like the wind. After using the software for a while you can change to writing by hand, it is very rewarding.

As for books:

Modal and tonal counterpoint is a great book for learning counterpoint:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/002872145...glance&n=283155

You should probably buy fux study of counterpoint to compliment that one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/039300277...5Fencoding=UTF8

This is a great harmony book (it's written by the master of it himself, tchaikovsky! :D)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/048644272...glance&n=283155

And finally, this is the no 1 book on orchestration

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/048621266...5Fencoding=UTF8

Studying music theory can be stressfull and time consuming, remember to stay dedicated. :unsure:

PS: Oh, remember to listen to a lot of works by the greats, that alone can teach you a whole lot.

PS.2: (------ That's Maurice Ravel ;)

The best harmony book out there, IMHO is Tonal Harmony by Stefan Kostka and Dorothy Payne.

And, yes, of course it is possible to self-teach composition and music theory... several of us here are self-taught musicians. One thing you should definitely do, in addition to reading books and listening to music, is study scores. I believe there are links posted somewhere on YC to free scores online.

The best harmony book out there, IMHO is Tonal Harmony by Stefan Kostka and Dorothy Payne.

Did you read the tchaikovsky book? I mean, the language is acient, yes. But c'mon! It's tchaikovsky! :ninja:

I believe there are links posted somewhere on YC to free scores online.

Yet again i come to the rescue. :P http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/index....wtopic=1211&hl=

The best composers aren't necessarily the best teachers.

You should probably buy fux study of counterpoint to compliment that one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/039300277...5Fencoding=UTF8

And finally, this is the no 1 book on orchestration

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/048621266...5Fencoding=UTF8

I have both of these books, I think they are both excellent. I've never seen anything quite like Fux's Counterpoint Book before in my life.

Studying music theory can be stressfull and time consuming, remember to stay dedicated. ;)

PS: Oh, remember to listen to a lot of works by the greats, that alone can teach you a whole lot.

Yes it can be quite stressfull.

The best harmony book out there, IMHO is Tonal Harmony by Stefan Kostka and Dorothy Payne.[/b]

This is what I use. I think it's reasonably well explained and covers topics very well.

Thanks for the wide list of recommendations, Letehn, I'm probably going to pick up some of those.

You can always follow my guide on composing books:

(I hope it's readable enough :blush: )

I think Fux's book is a bit out of date- it'll teach you palestrina-style counterpoint, no problem, but if you want a synthesis of 'modern' counterpoint I HIGHLY recommend "Counterpoint in Composition" by Felix Salzer and Carl Schachter.

It's basically Fux's book at the beginning, although with a much clearer and more methodical approach, and then it shows how many great composers (Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Corelli, Handel, Hayd, Mozart, Ockeghem, Purcell, Schubert, Schumann, Strauss and Wagner) applied and changed old counterpoint through the years. It's a great book- every composer should have it.[/b]

Interesting...most of those guys learnt what they knew from Fux. Yep. Palestrina style counterpont is the basis of all other. I may check out that book myself, though. Looks interesting.

I purchased "Composing Music: A New Approach" by William Russo, and have just started working through the excercises.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/022673216...5Fencoding=UTF8

This book should be good for people who need help composing melodies and such. It's great because you compose your music as you work through the book, so it's not just the author's way of composing. Also it teaches you to work with restrictions. Great book.

I believe a lot can be learned by studying scores. There's precious little chance of hearing ones own orchestrations these days (unless you're already there, as it were, or play in a good orchestra) so tips from established works are worthwhile, not to mention enhancing aural training.

For a book offering guidelines and insights into arranging: Gordon Jacob's "Orchestral Technique". It doesn't offer more than the basics on instruments themselves but it's a good start for 'standard sounding' orchestration from which you can depart as you will! Certainly steers the newcomer from a few traps.

M

What do you mean by studying scores.. can you go into some depth about this technique?