Overview

By customer request! You asked us to put every Professional Orchestration title into one bundle with all the accessories for one value price. And we have. So now you get the most complete self-study program ever in orchestration (that you can do at your own pace) which includes first three volumes of the Professional Orchestration series and then some!

The Professional Orchestration™ Everything So Far Bundle is a massive learning package that includes all the materials for the first semester of orchestration (including the Concert Pak and String Positions Booklet), plus two additional semesters with Professional Orchestration 2A and supplemental audio package, and Professional Orchestration 2B. Please see Content Note below.

Content Note: These are the same titles Alexander Publishing markets to colleges for orchestration textbook adoption. In the United States, most schools offer a single semester of orchestration (covered by Volume 1), while only a few others offer a second semester as a string writing course. Volumes 2A and 2B each contain the content for a semester class should a school want to expand their current offerings. Thus, from our perspective, the content of this Bundle is the equivalent of three semesters of study. Guides for suggested study are now included with this bundle. A fourth semester of study is available when you order separately the Professional Orchestration Writing For Strings Course Lite Edition.

First Semester Contents
This is the same one semester class bundle we market to colleges that you can order direct and do at your own pace that includes two additional study tools to improve learning effectiveness: the Concert Pak (more than 70 MP3 tracks of solo instrumental performances) and the 4-color Strings Position Booklet to help you learn how to create playable string parts for live performance.

First Semester contents includes the printed Professional Orchestration Volume 1 (Solo Instruments and Instrumentation Notes), the student workbook (called the Professional Mentor™), the Spectrotone Chart (unique to the study of orchestration created by 4x Academy Award® nominee for Best Film Score, Arthur Lange), and 12+ hours of full orchestral music licensed from eClassical.com.

The Concert Pak includes an extra 76 tracks of DRM-free MP3s giving an average 20-minute concert for these solo instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, violin, viola, cello, bass, harp and percussion. Use the Concert Pak to really get to know the instruments you’re writing for.

The String Positions Booklet gives a 4-color view of which pitches are available for each string position for violin, viola, cello, and bass. Use this to both study how string parts are written and to check your own string parts to make sure they’re playable. Courtesy of the Vienna Symphonic Library and composer Jay Bacal, you also get bonus materials for self-study for MIDI mock-ups. Also included is our Lesson Planner and seven (7) audio lectures explaining how to study on your own. Please click the Contents tab for details.

How you learn.
With Professional Orchestration you learn by doing. The seven (7) Professional Mentor audio lectures with the Professional Mentor workbook show you how to study a score and create a condensed score of the score excerpt being studied. You’re then encouraged to sequence the excerpt to learn orchestration techniques learned from the example, compositional insights from the example, and basic MIDI mock-up and recording skills. The majority of techniques taught in Volume 1 are illustrated with full page/full score examples. Where appropriate, full page scores are given for the low, medium, high and very ranges of each instrument so you can see/hear how scoring techniques change depending on what register the melody or theme is placed. By including the Spectrotone Chart™, which is unique to the Professional Orchestration series, we’re able to combine orchestration insight for coloristic writing with mixing skills in one value priced package not available from any other company. And you can learn at your own pace as your schedule allows.

End Result - you learn how to write and produce your own music!

The Professional Mentor™ – much more than a workbook.
The Professional Mentor is the heart of Professional Orchestration Volume 1 because it turns Professional Orchestration into a complete home study course that you can do on your schedule at your own pace. There’s never a rush.

Here’s how it works. With the Professional Mentor, rather than taking a self-test to see if you know the material, you write one piece for each of the 13 solo instruments covered (the equal of roughly a semester’s worth of work at college) before you do your “final” project – a full symphonic orchestration. With this approach, you create 13 publishable works that become the basis for your own publishing company, and, you can go to the next step, and create your own CD by doing a MIDI mock-up of your piece.

Instruments you write original works for are: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, and Harp.

Audio Package Volume 1
Includes 12.1 hours of music in DRM-free MP3 Format licensed from eClassical.com! The audio package accomplishes two learning objectives.

To fulfill listening requirements that many schools have, you’re given the complete suite or movement the majority of the book’s examples are found in. Since they’re MP3s, you’re not chained to a library computer where you’re forced to listen! Instead, you just download the MP3s to your favorite MP3 player and listen wherever. Since the MP3s are Digital Rights Management (DRM) free, you can listen on any Mac, PC, or other MP3 device.

To zoom in and hear the examples covered in the Professional Mentor using our separate timing sheets organized by chapter. A majority of the book's full page/full score examples are covered.

Bonus Gift from VSL
The good folks at the Vienna Symphonic Library, and composer Jay Bacal, have allowed us to give you, at no extra charge, 13 solo compositions with MP3 and MIDI files mocked-up by Jay for the Vienna Instruments sample library. Just load the MP3 and MIDI file into your sequencer. You’ll see how Jay created the composition by studying velocity, expression, and mod wheel data. By the time you’ve gone through each instrument, including solo strings, you’ll know what you need to not only write for each instrument, but how to approach doing a MIDI mock-up. It’s a professional education you can apply to any library, too. (Please note: sheet music or scores for the VSL examples can be purchased separately).

Professional Orchestration 2A: Orchestrating the Melody Within the String Section
The only book of its type, Professional Orchestration 2A, Orchestrating the Melody Within the String Section, is the next step in learning the vocabulary and language of scoring for the string section.

With the 800-page Volume 1, Solo Instruments and Instrumentation Notes, the focus was on instrumentation, registration of instruments and how they sound in four specific registers, and learning how to do score reductions.

With Volume 2A, we move from instrumentation into the full study of orchestration by learning specific time tested string section combinations. Volume 2A documents 65 different string combinations illustrated often with multiple examples in the low, medium, high, and very high string registers showing how scoring changes depending on the combination and the register it’s written in.

The techniques are organized into eight categories: Unisons, Two-Parts, Three-Parts, Four-Parts, Five-Parts, Divisi in Octaves, Divisi in Intervals, and Special Combinations.

Each technique has a brief commentary starting you off on identifying the technique and what else is happening within the score. There are also MIDI mock-up insights.

Study procedure is to take the full page score excerpt, condense it, and ideally do a MIDI mock-up of it.

The Vol. 2A MP3 Audio supplement contains the complete suite or work the score excerpt is found in, for a total of 17.7 hours of music when combined with the Vol. 1 MP3 Audio files.

Professional Orchestration 2B: Orchestrating the Melody Within the Woodwinds and Brass Sections
Also the only book of its type, Professional Orchestration 2B, Orchestrating the Melody Within the Woodwinds and Brass Sections, is the next step in learning the vocabulary and language of time tested techniques for scoring for woods and brass. For fast referencing, the techniques are grouped into these categories: Woodwind Unisons, Woodwind Octaves, Woodwind Combinations in Two- to Five-Parts, Light Vertical Harmony in the Woodwinds, then combinations for the French horns, trumpets and Trombones. Each technique has a brief commentary starting you off on identifying the technique and what else is happening within the score. There are also MIDI mock-up insights.
Study procedure is to take the full page score excerpt, condense it, and ideally do a MIDI mock-up of it.

SAMPLE PAGES (Click to open in a new window)
Professional Orchestration Vol 1: Introduction
Professional Orchestration Vol 2A: Introduction & Chapter 1
Professional Orchestration Vol 2A: Review by BioShock Game Composer - Garry Schyman
Professional Orchestration Vol 2B: Introduction

TABLE OF CONTENTS - Professional Orchestration Volume 1
The First Key: Solo Instruments and Instrumentation Notes
Chapter 1 - String Section Overview
Chapter 2 -The Violin: Basic Information
Chapter 3 - The Viola: Basic Information
Chapter 4 - The Cello: Basic Information
Chapter 5 - The String Bass: Basic Information
Chapter 6 - Bowings, Effects, & Bowing Effects
Chapter 7 - String Stops
Chapter 8 - Divisi
Chapter 9 - Muted Strings
Chapter 10 - Pizzicato
Chapter 11 - Natural and Artificial Harmonics
Chapter 12 - Woodwind Basics
Chapter 13 - The Flute
Chapter 14 - The Piccolo
Chapter 15 - The Oboe
Chapter 16 - The English Horn
Chapter 17 - The Clarinet
Chapter 18 - The Bass Clarinet
Chapter 19 - The Bassoon
Chapter 20 - The Contrabassoon
Chapter 21 - Brass Basics
Chapter 22 - The Bb Trumpet
Chapter 23 - The Tenor and Bass Trombones
Chapter 24 - The Tubas
Chapter 25 - The French Horn
Chapter 26 - The Harp
Chapter 27 - Piano, Organ, Celeste, & Virtual Orchestra
Chapter 28 - The Percussion Section
Bibliography

TABLE OF CONTENTS - Professional Orchestration Volume 2A
UNISON
Chapter 1 - Violins 1 + Violins 2
Chapter 2 - Violins + Violas
Chapter 3 - Violins + Cellos
Chapter 4 - Violas + Cellos
Chapter 5 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 + Violas
Chapter 6 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 + Cellos
Chapter 7 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 + Violas + Cellos

TWO-PARTS
Chapter 8 - Violins 1 - Violins 2
Chapter 9 - Violins 1 (or 2) - Violas
Chapter 10 - Violins – Cellos
Chapter 11 - Violas – Cellos
Chapter 12 - Cellos – Basses
Chapter 13 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 – Violas
Chapter 14 - Violins 1 + ½ Violins 2 – ½ Violins 2 + Violas
Chapter 15 - Violins 1 - Violins 2 + Violas
Chapter 16 - Violas + Cellos - Basses
Chapter 17 - Violas - Cellos + Basses
Chapter 18 - Violins - Violas + Cellos
Chapter 19 - Violins – Violins 2 + Cellos
Chapter 20 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 + Violas - Cellos
Chapter 21 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 + Violas - Cellos + Basses
Chapter 22 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 - Violas + Cellos
Chapter 23 - Violins 1 + ½ Violins 2 – ½ Violins 2 + Cellos
Chapter 24 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 + Violas + Cellos - Basses
Chapter 25 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 - Cellos

THREE-PARTS
Chapter 26 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 - Violas - Cellos
Chapter 27 - Violins 1 + Violas - Cellos - Basses
Chapter 28 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 + Violas - Cellos - Basses
Chapter 29 - Violins 1 – Violins 2 - Violas
Chapter 30 - Violins – Violas - Cellos
Chapter 31 - Violins 1 – Violins 2 – Violas + Cellos
Chapter 32 - Violins 1 – Violins 2 + Violas - Cellos
Chapter 33 - Violas – Cellos - Basses
Chapter 34 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 – Violas + Cellos - Basses
Chapter 35 - Violins 1 + ½ Violins 2 – ½ Violins 2 + ½ Violas – ½ Violas + Cellos
Chapter 36 - Violins 1 – Violins 2 – Violas + ½ Cellos
Chapter 37 - Violins 1 + Violins 2 – Cellos - Basses

FOUR-PARTS
Chapter 38 - Violins 1 - Violins 2 – Violas - Cellos
Chapter 39 - Violins 1 - Violins 2 + Violas – Cellos - Basses

FIVE-PARTS
Chapter 40 - Violins 1 – Violins 2 – Violas – Cellos - Basses

DIVISI IN OCTAVES
Chapter 41 - About Divisi
Chapter 42 - Violins 1 – Violins 1
Chapter 43 - Violas – Violas
Chapter 44 - Cellos – Cellos
Chapter 45 - Basses - Basses

DIVISI IN INTERVALS
Chapter 46 - Violins 1 – Violins 2 playing 3rds
Chapter 47 - Violins Divisi in 3rds
Chapter 48 - Violas Divisi in 3rds
Chapter 49 - Violins Divisi in 6ths
Chapter 50 - Violas Divisi in 6ths

SPECIAL COMBINATIONS
Chapter 51 - Special Combinations of Octaves, Thirds, Sixths & Tenths
Chapter 52 - Violas Divisi + Cellos Divisi in 6ths
Chapter 53 - Violins in 3rds – Violas/Cellos (3rds)
Chapter 54 - Violins 1 in 3rds – Violins 2 in 3rds
Chapter 55 - Violins 1 and Violas in Octaves with Violins 2 Playing Inner harmony part in 3rds
Chapter 56 - Violas and Cellos Doubling on 3rds
Chapter 57 - Multiple 3rds and Sixths
Chapter 58 - More Multiple 3rds and Sixths
Chapter 59 - Vlns 1 + Vlns 2 (3rds) – Violas A + Violas B (3rds)
Chapter 60 - Thirds in Three Octaves
Chapter 61 - Violins and Violas in Sixths
Chapter 62 - Vlns 1 div in 3rds – Violins 2 (top line) + Violas (bottom line)
Chapter 63 - Tenths
Chapter 64 - Violins 2 and Violas in 3rds – Cellos div
Chapter 65 - Violins 2 in 3rds – Cellos in 3rds

TABLE OF CONTENTS - Professional Orchestration Volume 2B
Introduction
Chapter 1 - The Woodwind Family
Chapter 2 - Woodwind Section Sizes

Section 1 - Woodwind Unisons
Chapter 3 - Flute Unisons
Chapter 4 - Flute + Oboe
Chapter 5 - Flute + English Horn
Chapter 6 - Flute + Clarinet
Chapter 7 - Oboe Unisons
Chapter 8 - Oboe + Clarinet
Chapter 9 - English Horn + Clarinet
Chapter 10 - English Horn + Bassoon
Chapter 11 - Clarinet + Clarinet
Chapter 12 - Clarinet + Bassoon
Chapter 13 - Bassoon + Bassoon
Chapter 14 - Bassoon + Sarrusaphone
Chapter 15 - Bassoon + Contrabassoon
Chapter 16 - Flute + Oboe + Clarinet
Chapter 17 - Flute + English Horn + Oboe + Clarinet
Chapter 18 - Flute + Oboe + Clarinet + Eb Clarinet
Chapter 19 - Oboe + Clarinet + English Horn
Chapter 20 - English Horn + Clarinet + Bassoon

Section 2 - Woodwind Octaves
Chapter 21 - Piccolo - Flute
Chapter 22 - Piccolo - Oboe
Chapter 23 - Piccolo - Clarinet
Chapter 24 - Flute - Flute
Chapter 25 - Flute - Oboe
Chapter 26 - Flute - Clarinet
Chapter 27 - Flute - Bassoon
Chapter 28 - Oboe - Oboe
Chapter 29 - Oboe - Clarinet
Chapter 30 - Oboe - English Horn
Chapter 31 - Oboe - Bassoon
Chapter 32 - English Horn - Bassoon
Chapter 33 - Clarinet - Clarinet
Chapter 34 - Clarinet - Bass Clarinet
Chapter 35 - Clarinet - Bassoon
Chapter 36 - Bassoon - Bassoon
Chapter 37 - Bassoon - Contrabassoon

Section 3 - Woodwind Combinations in Two- to Five-Parts
Chapter 38 - Two Parts: Low to Medium Registers
Chapter 39 - Two Parts: Medium Register
Chapter 40 - Two Parts: Medium to High Register
Chapter 41 - Two Parts: High Register
Chapter 42 - Two Parts: Very High Register
Chapter 43 - Three Parts: High Register
Chapter 44 - Three Parts: Very High Register
Chapter 45 - Four to Five-Parts

Section 4 - Light Vertical Harmony in the Woodwinds
Chapter 46 - Light Harmony in the Flutes
Chapter 47 - Light Harmony in the Oboes
Chapter 48 - Light Harmony in the Clarinets
Chapter 49 - Light Harmony in the Bassoons
Chapter 50 - Two-Part Light Harmony: Thirds in Unison
Chapter 51 - Two-Part Light Harmony: Thirds in Octave
Chapter 52 - Three-Part Light Harmony: Thirds in Multiple Octaves

BRASS
Introduction
Chapter 53 - French Horns in Unison
Chapter 54 - French Horns in Octaves (Two Parts)
Chapter 55 - French Horns in 3rds and 6ths
Chapter 56 - Trumpets in Unison
Chapter 57 - Trumpets in Octaves (Two Parts)
Chapter 58 - Trumpets in Thirds
Chapter 59 - Trombones in Unison
Chapter 60 - Trombones in Octaves (Two Parts)
Chapter 61 - Trombones in Thirds
Conclusion


LOOKING FOR A PRINTED BOOK EDITION?
Paperback editions of Professional Orchestration, Vols. 1, 2A and 2B are available to order from Amazon or through most major bookstores using the information below:

Title 01: Professional Orchestration Vol 1: Solo Instruments & Instrumentation Notes
Author: Peter Lawrence Alexander / ISBN: 978-0-939067-70-1

Title 02: Professional Orchestration Vol 2A: Orchestrating the Melody Within the String Section
Author: Peter Lawrence Alexander / ISBN: 978-0-939067-06-0

Title 03: Professional Orchestration Vol 2B: Orchestrating the Melody Within the Woodwinds & Brass
Author: Peter Lawrence Alexander / ISBN: 978-0-939067-93-0


The remaining items included in this bundle are only available as digital downloads. You can order them separately here.
1. Professional Orchestration Volumes 1 and 2A MP3 Audio & Professional Mentor Package (Includes Spectrotone Chart)
2. Professional Mentor Concert Package for Professional Orchestration Volume 1
3. String Positions Booklet

Contents

Everything-So-Far Home Study Package Contents

The following are instant digital downloads:
1.Professional Orchestration™ Volume 1 PDF - $55.96 Retail Value
2.Professional Orchestration™ Volume 2A PDF - $47.96 Retail Value
3.Professional Orchestration™ Volume 2B PDF - $51.96 Retail Value
4.Professional Orchestration Volume 1 and 2A MP3 Audio Package (127 tracks / 17.7 Hours of Digital Rights Management Free MP3s covering a majority of the examples - Retail Value compared to iTunes and other vendors with DRM-free MP3s) - $125.73 Retail Value
5.Spectrotone Chart™ - $29.95 Retail Value
6.Professional Mentor™ Workbook for Volume 1 - $24.95 Retail Value
7. Professional Mentor Vol. 1 MP3 Concert Package - An extra 76 tracks of DRM-free MP3s giving an average 20-minute concert for these solo instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, violin, viola, cello, bass, harp and percussion. $75.24 Retail Value
8. Strings Positions PDF Booklet in 4 Color PDF - $14.95 Retail Value
9. Professional Audio Lecture Overview Talks - Bonus!
10.Orchestral Sample Evaluation Spreadsheets for Woodwinds/Brass, Strings and Harp - Bonus!

Total Value - $426.70

Plus! Your FREE gift from the Vienna Symphonic Library - 13 MP3/MIDI files to help you learn the techniques of MIDI Mockup!

Professional Mentor™ Contents
1. Lesson Planner
2. Score Analysis Guide
3. Orchestral Sketchpad PDF
4. Spectrotone Analysis Guide
5. Spectrotone Range Sheets
6. Recording Spectrotone Combinations
7. VSL Self-Study MIDI Mockup
8. Professional Mentor Writing Assignments
9. Orchestral Sample Library Evaluation Spreadsheets

Professional Audio Lectures™
1. Professional Mentor Overview
2. Score Analysis Overview
3. Spectrotone Analysis Overview
4. Spectrotone Range Sheet Assignments
5. Recording Spectrotone Combinations
6. VSL Self-Study Overview
7. Professional Mentor Writing Assignments Overview

eClassical.com DRM-Free MP3 Audio Package
Beethoven
Symphony 5
1. Allegro con brio
2. Andante
3-4. Allegro

Beethoven
Symphony 6 (Pastoral)
1. Allegro ma non troppo
2. Andante molto mosso
3. Allegro

Beethoven
Symphony 7
2. Allegretto

Beethoven
Symphony 9
4. Finale - Presto

Berlioz
Symphony Fantastique
1. Reveries (Passions)
2. Un bal
3. Scene aux champs
4. Marche au supplice
5. Songe d'une nuit de Sabbat

Bizet
Carmen Suites Complete
Suite #1: 1. Prelude - Aragonaise
Suite #1: 2. Intermezzo
Suite #1: 3. Seguidilla
Suite #1: 4. Les dragons de Alcala
Suite #1: 5. Marche du toreador
Suite #2: 1. Marche des contrabandiers
Suite #2: 2. Habanera
Suite #2: 3. Nocturne
Suite #2: 4. Chanson du toreador
Suite #2: 5. Garde montant
Suite #2: 6. Danse bohemienne

Bizet
L'Arlesienne Suite
Suite #1: 1. Prelude
Suite #1: 2. Minuet
Suite #1: 3. Allegro
Suite #1: 4. Carillon
Suite #2: 1. Pastorale
Suite #2: 2. Intermezzo
Suite #2: 3. Minuet
Suite #2: 4. Farandole

Borodin
Polovetsian Dances

Borodin
In the Steppes of Central Asia

Borodin
Symphony #2
1. Allegro
2. Scherzo
3. Andante
4. Finale (Allegro)

Chabrier
Espana

Debussy
Images/Iberia
Images 1: Gigues
Images 2: Iberia - Par les rues et par les chemins
Images 2: Iberia - Les parfums de la nuit
Images 2: Iberia - Le matin d'un jour de fete
Images 3: Rondes de printemps

Debussy
La Mer
1. De l'aube a midi sur la mer
2. Jeux de vagues
3. Dialogue du vent et de la mer

Dukas
Sorcerer's Apprentice

Dvorak
Symphony #9 (New World)
2. Largo
4. Allegro con fuoco

Holst
The Planets
1. Mars
2. Venus
3. Mercury
4. Jupiter
5. Saturn
6. Uranus
7. Neptune

Mahler
Symphony #1 (Titan)
1. Langsam Schleppend
2. Scherzo kraftig bewegt
3. Feierlich und gemessen ohne zu schleppen
4. Sturmisch bewegt

Mahler
Symphony #9
1. Andante comodo
2. Im Tempo Eines
3. Rondo
4. Adagio

Mendelssohn
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Overture
Scherzo
Intermezzo
Notturno
Wedding March

Mendelssohn
Symphony #4 (Italian)
1. Allegro vivace
2. Andante con moto
3. Con moto moderato
4. Saltarello

Moussorgsky
Night on Bald Mountain

Mozart
Symphony #36
1. Adagio Allegro spiritoso
2. Andante
3. Menuetto
4. Presto

Mozart
Symphony #41
1. Allegro vivace
2. Andante cantabile
3. Menuetto
4. Molto allegro

Prokofiev
Lt. Kije
3. Kije's wedding
4. Troika

Ravel
Daphnis and Chloe Suite #2

Ravel
Mother Goose Suite
1. Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant
2. Petit Poucet
3. Laideronnette imperatrice des Pagodes
4. Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bete
5. Le jardin feerique

Ravel
La Valse

Rimsky-Korsakov
Cappricio Espagnole
1. Alborda
2. Variazioni
3. Alborada
4. Scena e canto gitano
5. Fandango asturiano Coda

Rimsky-Korsakov
Scheherazade
1. The Sea and Sinbad's Ship
2. The Kalender Prince
3. The Young Prince and the Young Princess
4. Festival at Baghdad - The Sea

Saint-Saens
Danse Macabre

Schoenberg
Chamber Symphony #1 for 15 Solo Instruments

Schumann
Symphony #1 (Spring)
1. Andante un poco maestoso - Allegro molto vivace

Sibelius
Swan of Tuonela

Strauss
Don Juan

Strauss
Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks

Stravinksy
The Rite of Spring
1. L'adoration de la terre
2. Le Sacrifice

Tchaikovsky
Symphony #4
3. Scherzo Pizzicato ostinato allegro

Tchaikovsky
Symphony #6 (Pathetique)
1. Adagio - Allegro non troppo

Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker
2. March
3. Danse de la fee
4. Danse Russe (Trepak)
6. Danse chinoise
7. Danse des mirlitons
8. Valse des fleurs

Wagner
Parsifal Prelude

Wagner
Tristan und Isolde Prelude

Wagner
Lohengrin Prelude

Wagner
Ride of the Valkyries

Wagner
Die Meistersinger von Nuremberg Prelude

Wagner
Der Fliegende Hollander Flying Dutchman Overture(Flying Dutchman)

Anton Webern
Passacaglia for Orchestra Op. 1

Spectrotone Chart

Because Professional Orchestration™ is the first orchestral scoring series to come out of the scoring stages of Los Angeles, we’re excited to announce the addition of the Spectrotone Chart™, created by Academy Award® nominee Arthur Lange, who was also music director for MGM and other studios.

Using the Spectrotone Chart you'll learn how to create effective orchestral combinations by understanding which instruments will blend well together in which registers, or which instruments will provide a more contrasting tone-color when placed together. You'll also learn starting insights on orchestral balance within each section of strings, brass and winds.

In Arthur Lange’s own words, the Spectrotone Chart is, “a colorgraphic exposition of tone-color combinations and balance as practiced in modern orchestration.”

The Spectrotone Chart has applications to any style of music that makes use of orchestral instruments. It shows orchestral balance and color at a glance. With the Spectrotone Chart, visual colors are used to describe instrumental tone-colors, making it possible to determine in advance the true balance of any orchestral color effects. Because the Spectrotone Chart does away with trial and error guessing, you can use it when arranging, composing, recording or mixing. With its color coded approach, you can quickly work out combinations by instrument, by range, and by specific notes.

Each tone-color has an additional timbre description that changes depending on the type of articulation used. In your PDF Guides you're given a chart of Articulation Tables by tone-color, by instrument that show how the timbre can change, and also how this will affect the intensity and carrying power of that instrument. You'll know when an instrument in a particular register will be strong in intensity, or when it will be weak and possibly need reinforcing by another instrument.

For mixing purposes and applying EQ, we’ve added the Hz frequencies for each pitch under the keyboard shown at the bottom of the chart.

Because the Spectrotone Chart is a must have for all arrangers, composers and recording engineers, we've made it a part of our Professional Orchestration curriculum, and the Professional Orchestration Home Study Bundles.

The Spectrotone Chart is a digital downloaded item, that can be used as an on-screen reference, or printed out on a variety of different sized papers. It's designed for 18" x 24" poster printing, but can be resized on a home color printer.

Compare Bundles!