Composition books

Hey,

Are there any good composition books out there that I could use to self teach myself?

Thanks,

Walter Piston: 'Harmony'. Then 'Counterpoint', then 'Orchestration'

There are about 50 threads on this...

See, I think there are little secrets and tips on how to approach music compositions, since its a mental work 90% of the time. So there must be a book out there that aside from revealing important compositional tips, approaches harmony, counterpoint and orchestration in such a way that it striclty relates to the composers final goal; to apply what one is learning to his daily work.

I am pretty sure JW could write a book of that nature.

I would suggest with developing a good aural imagination...you can do this by start knowing what music you are most comfortable with and what you're not. This is the better than books. Though books are always a good choice. For books, Schoenberg's book on counterpoint and composition are always good start. Piston's harmony for sure, then A good counterpoint book, and then a good orchestration book. But start with listening to music.

As has already been mentioned, Schoenberg's books are worth looking at. They teach the art of composition rather than any music theory or orchestration but reading them completely changed my outlook on composing and I'm much better for it. For orchestration I would recommend Rimsky-Korsakov's book although some prior knowledge is necessary to really understand the book. It's always a book that I revisit though to check up on certain things while composing.

Also, if you are interested in learning the basic rules of counterpoint, check out Joseph Fux's Graddus ad Parnassum. If you do all the exercises like I did myself, you won't ever have to worry about looking for parallel or hidden fifths or octaves, they will just jump out of the page at you but after going through the book, it's unlikely that you would unintentionally write any parallels anyway because you would just know how to avoid them.

I would have to concur with that. A good counterpoint book is a must. Fux's and Schoenberg's texts on the subject are the best out there; I don't known about piston's text on CP. But he has superb text on harmony which differs from any other theory text, for harmony is a better mode to learn than what they teach you.

I would have to concur with that. A good counterpoint book is a must. Fux's and Schoenberg's texts on the subject are the best out there; I don't known about piston's text on CP. But he has superb text on harmony which differs from any other theory text, for harmony is a better mode to learn than what they teach you.

Are there anything like a Ebook regarding to this issue?

Are there anything like a Ebook regarding to this issue?

http://books.google.com/books?id=m9_CTe8qNWIC&printsec=frontcover&dq=orchestration&hl=en&ei=utg-TaPfCsGBlAep9MSYAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-preview-link&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQuwUwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=zuU-AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=counterpoint&hl=en&ei=79g-TYaUDtCRgQfF3JzuCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-preview-link&resnum=8&sqi=2&ved=0CFYQuwUwBw#v=onepage&q&f=false

I have had my eye on these 2 books for a while, does anyone here have them that would recommend them? I want to study the art of orchestration more so than composition right now and if either, or both, of these books are helpful then I will purchase them.

"The Technique of Orchestration: 6th edition" by Kent Kennan and Donald Grantham

"The Study of Orchestration: 3rd edition" by Samuel Adler

Both are actually really great! I would start off with Adler though as it's most up-to-date and really nice laid out and easy to read.

Then loan Kennan's on the library to fill the gaps.

http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Goetschius%2C%20Percy%2C%201853-1943%22

Download all of these books. They'll make your eyes bleed. Wonderful stuff.

Hey,

Are there any good composition books out there that I could use to self teach myself?

Thanks,

http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Goetschius%2C%20Percy%2C%201853-1943%22

Try these. The best I've found. Period.

Of course, you will not go far without William Caplin's "Classical Form".

http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Goetschius%2C%20Percy%2C%201853-1943%22

Try these. The best I've found. Period.