Anatomy of the Orchestra

This is by no means a beginning orchestration book. A book like "The Technique of Orchestration" by Kent Kennan should be read before attempting "Anatomy of the Orchestra." This book is almost entirely filled with in-depth, graduate level information that is difficult for an amateur to understand or retain. The chapter on 'Other Instruments' should not be entirely trusted, not because of faulty information, but due to lack of modern practicality. Simply consult someone that plays a strange instrument if you have questions.

The thing to understand about this brilliant and indispensable handbook is that it is NOT an orchestration textbook. Orchestration textbooks look at the instruments of the orchestra purely from the viewpoint of what composers or arrangers need to know. This book, on the other hand, dissects the orchestra with a view to explaining what a conductor needs to know, and it is also useful for players who want to understand more about the other sections of the orchestra (or about their own!) and for serious listeners and musicians of all kinds who want to understand the workings and the resources of a modern symphony orchestra. Naturally there is some overlap between the information presented here and what would be found in an orchestration textbook, but this would be a (very valuable) supplement rather than the main textbook for a student of orchestration. (Likewise, in the opposite direction, conducting students will of course benefit from an in-depth study of orchestration as a crucial supplement to what this book will teach them!) There are other guides to the orchestra and its instruments for youngsters and laypersons, written at a more elementary level -- but for the professional or aspiring professional musician, this book is both unique and uniquely valuable.

Great book for music lovers, proffessional musicians and composers. Gives you a real insight into the orchestra and individual instruments. Practical and well written. Highly recommended.

This is a well-written and thought-out text about the modern day symphony orchestra. It provides and analysis of every instrument in the orchestra, it's purposes, the sound it produces, and the possibilities. Norman Del Mar's book is a must for music students and professionals alike.

Anyone with a more than passing interest in Orchestral music should try this one. Especially good for young players in school or civic orchestras. It desecribes what everyone's job is, how they play different effects, hangups, foibles, etc...Tells you why Horns don't like sitting in front of percussion. Why the tympanist won't play other percussion, but the the rest of the kitchen dept is running around playing 3 and four different instruments. It talks a lot about keys, notes, and has many copies of the score for illustration, but if you don't read music don't despair... your enjoyment should not be diminished.When to disagree with the conductor...And describes the curious relations amongst all those infighting violins.