Samuel Adler Method

I would like to hear from those of you that have used Adler's "The Study of Orchestration". Is it a worthwhile investment - in particular should the CDs and book be purchased together? It costs a fair bit, but I've heard good things about it. I am new to orchestration but I have a background in theory.

I would like to hear from those of you that have used Adler's "The Study of Orchestration". Is it a worthwhile investment - in particular should the CDs and book be purchased together? It costs a fair bit, but I've heard good things about it. I am new to orchestration but I have a background in theory.

Yes! This book is, imho, totally worth the price tag. It is a bible of sorts for composers. Of course you can learn everything you want on the internet but this book has almost everything you need in terms of orchestration of Western instruments all in one place. The book is a definite yes from me, but the CDs possibly not because of the extra cost. However, it is nice to be able to hear the examples out loud. CDs are optional. The book is almost a must.

For nuts and bolts basics of orchestration Adler's book is fine. There are drawbacks to it - done for the sake of quality over quantity:

1) Extended discussion of new techniques over the past 50 years are mentioned but not gone into great depth. His discussion of string harmonics can get confusing - especially when you compare the info with performers. However, his charts on the most secure harmonics are very good. Adler's focus is instruments as part of the orchestra - less in a solo or chamber capacity.

2) Balancing choral forces with an orchestra is not discussed (please double check me on this) or at least very little. Granted choral writing is such a gigantic subject you could write volumes (in fact I think there is a gigantic 2 volume edition which gives an overview of the entire Western choral literature ... I took it out of the library once and never got beyond the discussion of a Victoria vocal work - very good but exhaustingly comprehensive!)

But Adler knows his stuff and I have heard his 5th Symphony which I thought was pretty good. Nothing stellar though but still very strong craftsmanship and worth taking it out of the library (Naxos has been putting out recordings of Adler's works).

Balancing choral forces with an orchestra is not discussed (please double check me on this) or at least very little. Granted choral writing is such a gigantic subject you could write volumes (in fact I think there is a gigantic 2 volume edition which gives an overview of the entire Western choral literature ... I took it out of the library once and never got beyond the discussion of a Victoria vocal work - very good but exhaustingly comprehensive!)

You are very right, Adler doesn't touch vocal music at all. What book are you talking about with the overview of choral literature? I'd love to get my hands on that. I know Forsyth has a book dedicated to choral orchestration (it's actually in the public domain), but it's not that long.

I'll have to go back to the NY PErforming Arts library. It may have been on of those gigantic Norton Series that are hard to find.

Ah I recall too it was much more about choral conducting but just for all the choral scores it provides you could learn something about writing for choirs.

The best way to learn aside from the textbooks to guide you is to study orchestral scores and work with performers. There are far greater possibilities than what a textbook tells you.

The best way to learn aside from the textbooks to guide you is to study orchestral scores and work with performers. There are far greater possibilities than what a textbook tells you.

Definitely, but I might have trouble learning some of the choral history from scores and performers. Are you in the city? I realized this summer that the New York Public Library can be shortened to NYPL. It still makes me giggle when I say it out loud.

I would like to hear from those of you that have used Adler's "The Study of Orchestration". Is it a worthwhile investment - in particular should the CDs and book be purchased together? It costs a fair bit, but I've heard good things about it. I am new to orchestration but I have a background in theory.

Yes, it is a very worthwhile investment. It has helped me a ton. In regards of the price, I bought my copy from half.com. I got the second edition for around $30.00 including shipping. The second edition is no different from the third edition. It also did not come with anything. Only the book, but my composition teacher burned me a copy of the disk.

I think this is a good orchestration course, too: http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=77

I've had a masterclass with Samuel Adler, actually. Pretty awesome experience.

I own two volumes of his orchestration book. I agree with others here, it's a composer's bible to orchestration.

Get the book! It's worth every penny. I plan to buy the CD's when I'm in a better financial state. Many of the music examples I already have in my library, and paying 100dollars for a couple of music examples of techniques is quite expensive for me.

AntiA: What do you mean with two volumes? You mean two editions right?

AntiA: What do you mean with two volumes? You mean two editions right?

Yeah. That's what I meant.

Yes, it is a very worthwhile investment. It has helped me a ton. In regards of the price, I bought my copy from half.com. I got the second edition for around $30.00 including shipping. The second edition is no different from the third edition. It also did not come with anything. Only the book, but my composition teacher burned me a copy of the disk.

Half.com! I didn't know such a thing existed until now. Simply marvelous.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. It's a go then.

I have the book, and I've learned a lot from it. Definitely a worthwhile investment, as everyone else who's written in the thread have already pointed out.

Since we're onto the topic, I'd like to ask you about a related question: Does anyone have a suggestion for a complimentary book that goes in-depth on the matter of choral/vocal ensembles with orchestra?

The Adler, as CO said already, is very good for the nuts and bolts of orchestration. This range fits with that instrument and this instrument sounds good with others etc. His orchestral examples are very good too. Where it does a not-so-good-job is with Macro-orchestration or orchestration on a large scale, i.e. the stuff that isn't the nuts and bolts of orchestration. He doesn't work on how to properly write for the orchestra as a whole (but individual choirs its pretty good, could be better). He also doesn't go through the advanced subtleties of orchestration that exist if much of the modern repertoire. This is why I find Study of Orchestration is a good suplimental tool but not alone for orchestration. Study your scores for the best examples! It's better than any textbook.

Honestly these days orchestration is something so free that some of the best stuff I've seen on the topic are not books with rules and scraggy, but simply raw information (eg trumpet does X decibels normally at X dynamic, violin FF downbow normally lasts X seconds, bla bla) and literature examples. If anyone wants to really learn 20th century orchestration they might as well go grab scores and consult books written on specific technique topics, like harmonics, multiphonics, etc etc. These are often not covered at good length in orchestration books.

Hell all sorts of extended techniques are better off being learned from literature itself.

So, really, I have maybe two or three orchestration books but I never touched them since most of what I have to know comes from looking at other composers. There is obviously no replacement for knowing your instruments inside out, but as for everything else things' pretty free.

But I get the feeling this is all nothing to do with modern music, eh?

You are very right, Adler doesn't touch vocal music at all. What book are you talking about with the overview of choral literature? I'd love to get my hands on that. I know Forsyth has a book dedicated to choral orchestration (it's actually in the public domain), but it's not that long.

Well there is a chapter about "Accompanying the Vocal Soloist, Ensemble or Chorus" (at least in the 3rd edition). For me that's enough considering the book is mainly about the orchestra.

The Adler, as CO said already, is very good for the nuts and bolts of orchestration. This range fits with that instrument and this instrument sounds good with others etc. His orchestral examples are very good too. Where it does a not-so-good-job is with Macro-orchestration or orchestration on a large scale, i.e. the stuff that isn't the nuts and bolts of orchestration. He doesn't work on how to properly write for the orchestra as a whole (but individual choirs its pretty good, could be better). He also doesn't go through the advanced subtleties of orchestration that exist if much of the modern repertoire. This is why I find Study of Orchestration is a good suplimental tool but not alone for orchestration. Study your scores for the best examples! It's better than any textbook.

There is in fact some chapters on woods+strings, woods+strings+brass and woods+strings+brass+percussion. Anyway, I think Adler thought it's best to study the actual scores for the best examples as well, since he quotes a lot of works that the reader should look deeper into to get a grip of the technique in question.

Orchestration is nothing you can rely on a book to teach you. You will also have to actively read through scores and make piano reductions to get some real knowledge about it.

Anywhow it's a great book. If you use it together with studying scores on your own you're set. The workbook for it is also pretty good (for me it helps to have something "telling" me what kind of exercises to do).

Well there is a chapter about "Accompanying the Vocal Soloist, Ensemble or Chorus" (at least in the 3rd edition). For me that's enough considering the book is mainly about the orchestra.

Wow, I can't believe I missed that. There's 27 pages of info on vocal works in the 3rd edition, although most of it is score examples.

Well there is a chapter about "Accompanying the Vocal Soloist, Ensemble or Chorus" (at least in the 3rd edition). For me that's enough considering the book is mainly about the orchestra.

Yeah, but it isn't very good...