Band Arranging Text?

Alex C · Post by **Alex C** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 5:40 pm

I highly recommend the Kent Kennon book on orchestration if you can find it.

There may be something newer out but Kennon was a fine composer and an excellent teacher; a rare combination.

TubaRay · Post by **TubaRay** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 9:15 pm

The Kennon is excellent.

dunelandmusic · Post by **dunelandmusic** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:13 am

Is the spelling "kent Kennan" ?

DonShirer · Post by **DonShirer** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:07 pm

I picked up a paperback copy of "Arranging for he Concert Band" by Frank Erickson a few years ago. It is fairly slim (176 pg) but covers most of the important topics including arranging from piano or orchestral music. It was published by Belwin-Mills in 1983 and carries ISBN 0-910957-0503. The instrumental ranges it lists are conservative--probably intended for the beginning high school player.

TheChiefofStaph · Post by **TheChiefofStaph** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:08 pm

The Kennan book is a great resource for many things, but wind band arranging is not one of them. To that end, for this specific situation I'd probably recommend the Samuel Adler The Study Of Orchestration. It is a bit more expensive than the Kennan, but (at least the Third Edition) has an entire section dedicated to "Scoring for Band or Wind Ensemble." Be aware that the Adler is more of a "textbook" style, while the Kennan is less so.

One more thing to note about the Adler... while the section on scoring for band offers no audio examples, the rest of the book relies pretty heavily on the CDs that (alas) must be purchased separately. You're talking about dropping some pretty good cash ($150ish off Amazon total), but I think that the CDs are worth it.

Kennan:
Cheap(er)
Cornerstone of orchestration
but, no section on wind band

Adler:
$$$$$
CDs are really almost required
but, specific section on wind band AND more information about each individual instrument

This probably hasn't helped at all but, being a theorist, I like to obfuscate

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:26 pm

The Frank Erickson book (about $20 new) is good as far as it goes, but I'd combine it with a good text on orchestration, so you better know the limitations of each instrument.

BVD Press · Post by **BVD Press** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:49 pm

Not specifically for band, but the Smauel Adler book is quite good (and expensive):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/offer- ... oding=UTF8

Some really great tips etc.

Another good one and cheaper by Rimsky-Korsakov:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/048621 ... e&n=283155