What Books Do You Recommend To Learn Music Composition?

I have tried to search on libraries and it is very hard to find a book in the music category that be not a "history of music" book. It seems as somehow it were very mysterious the "secret" to compose music, but I am sure that it is not a secret, and that it is not a mystery. Yet, I have very hard times finding any book to learn to compose, maybe I am too unwise to search, maybe there are actually very few books about this topic. Whatever it is, I now request you to please give me some bibliography about composition, it does not matter if it is something to advanced or something for beginners, I would like to make the bigger bibliography of composition books that I can. But, of course, try to mention only the ones you actually recommend, not the bad books, and try to mention if it is something for beginners or for advanced.

I will travel soon to another place where I could get the books if I preorder them, and I don't always have this chance to get music books, so I would like to take advantage and try to get the best ones I can, according to the ones you recommend me here. Thanks.

The problem with your search is that you are looking for a magic bullet, the composer bible. Unfortunately that doesn't exist. Books like composing for dummies attempt to be that one stop shop for composer but it lacks a lot of information you would need. What you really need are several books over a variety of topics.

Books on orchestration

Books on music theory

Books on music history

CDs and MP3 of any and all kinds of classical music from all periods of music.

You also just need to get started on writing. The art of composing doesn't come from a book. The only thing gained from books is how to refine the craft and understand the music. They cannot teach you to be creative though, that had to come from within.

I'll post some recommended reading when I get back to my computer later today. Till then happy composing.

One of the best books I've ever read:

20th Century Harmony: creative aspects and practice, by Vincent Persichetti.

This book does not give you models to compose; instead, it gives you tools to make your music. There are also some fun exercises at the end of each chapter^^

I've got Harmony by Piston and Anatomy of the Orchestra by Del Mar.

Just listen to my music, it's all there..... ;)

As I promised, here are my book recommendations (as well as websites) that will help in gaining different aspects of making and understanding music. 

For your music theory studies:

Tonal Harmony: with an introduction to twentieth-century music By Stefan Kostka and Dorothy Payne 

This is a standard textbook used in many universities and is used at my universities freshmen theory classes. Its straight forward and newer editions come with workbooks and CDs that accompany the text. 

www.musictheory.net 

This site has the basic beginnings of what you need to know in music theory and aural skills. The site comes with exercises and tools for later studies. It also has accompanying apps for both theory and aural skills.

Counterpoint by Kent Kennan 

A much more advance book on just counterpoint, how to study it and how to write it. Its very thorough but can go over ones head very easily. 

Analysis of Tonal Music: A Schenkerian Approach by Allen Cadwallader and David Gagné

An even more advance theory text that uses schenkerian theory to analyze tonal music. Might want to put off this book until you fully absorbed the others. 

Structural Functions of Harmony by Arnold Schoenberg

As the title suggest, its a book on harmony. However, it is not a how-to on harmony, but the theories and functions of tonal harmonies. 

Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory by Joseph N. Straus

A theory book that only deals with music of the early 20th century.

Books on Orchestration:

Essential Dictionary of Music by Lindsey C. Harnsberger, Essential Dictionary of Music Notation by Tom Gerou and Linda Lusk, and Essential Dictionary of Orchestration by Dave Black and Tom Gerou

Three cheap small must have books for any starting composer. 

http://www.music.indiana.edu/department/composition/isfee/

An essential bookmark in your browser for orchestration. Teaches you about almost every instrument and includes videos that are activated by the space bar. 

Music History (because you shouldn't write music in a vacuum) 

The Enjoyment of Music (The complete edition) by Kristine Forney, Andrew Dell'Antonio, and Joseph Machlis 

This will give you a brief overview of classical music's history.

Norton Anthology of Western Music (Vol. 1 & 2) by J. Peter Burkholder, Claude V. Palisca

Provides scores and history to study 

The Cambridge History of Western Music Theory

​More advance readings and excerpts of musical treatises written over the centuries that give you an overview of how music theory came to being. 

​Like I said, none of these books will teach you to compose. But for me, many of these books changed how I approached composing and thought about music. Hopefully they will do the same for you. 

That's pretty good list by Plutokat!

The Kostka theory book is really good for introducing theory, wouldn't recommend anything else.

For orchestration, I found Rimsky-Korsakov's Principles of Orchestration and Samuel Alder's book to be quite helpful. I also have a book by Kent Kennan and Donald Grantham called The Technique of Orchestration, which is my current reference. 

The norton anthologies are WONDERFUL for music history (I would also add the 3rd volume if you're interested in 20th century stuff). You should probably get the companion textbook that goes along with it, A History of Western Music. 

And remember, imslp.org is your friend! 

Also echo Kostka's book for harmony.  I like Piston's book for orchestration, still refer to it all the time.

Harmony and Voice Leading is a very thorough book. It has plenty of examples and exercises.

Hello, I did not have time to thank before, so I take the chance now: thank you.

If anyone has more suggestions, please post them!

Any book based on Fux's Gradus, Rameau's Treatise, and for classical era composers like myself, Gjerdingen's "Music in the Galant Style"

I think the best book you can use to learn composition is a phone book. Metaphorically maybe nowadays. Because then you can find a teacher, and that is not only the best way to learn music, especially in the beginning, but probably the only way.