The Study of Orchestration

I studied classical piano and composition myself for most of my life and have professional degrees in both. When I write my music, I need to look up stuff now and then, or brush up my knowledge. This book is perfect for this! I wish I had bought it years ago.

I have used Adler for many years, though several editions. It is a great orchestration book for the beginner and the experienced orchestrator alike. Very easy to read and well organized, I feel it is one of if not the best orchestration text on the market to date.

An essential reference tool for the Composer and Orchestrator - I've read it cover to cover, and dipped into it for information almost every week. This orchestration text works exceptionally well with the accompanying set of 5 CD's and Workbook. This is the more expensive package, but it will literally last a lifetime. With the CDs, you gain an aural idea of the sound or orchestral phenomenon that the musical examples... Read Full Review

I bought the main text, the workbook and the cd's and then took a college level orchestration course as an independent study. I got good marks in the course and needed minimal help from my professor. The cd's are worth it because standard repertoire is used, allowing you to easily remember concepts by recalling familiar works. After reading a section, doing the related workbook exercises and listening to examples, I felt... Read Full Review

This book is very well done. It can be used as a reference, or as an orchestration course (with the CDs and the workbook). Musical examples are wide in scope and musical styles. I really recommend buying the CD set: most of the musical examples have been specially recorded for this book (good quality + instrument choirs & registers isolated from the rest of the orchestra).