A Treatise upon Modern Instrumentation and Orchestration

This is a translation of the second edition of Berlioz's landmark text on instrumentation, encapsulating his mastery of the craft.

Hector Berlioz (Author), Mary Cowden Clarke (Translated by)

9781108021166, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 28 October 2010

266 pages, 66 music examples
29.7 x 21 x 1.4 cm, 0.64 kg

This is a translation of the second (1858) edition of Berlioz's landmark treatise by Mary Cowden Clarke, daughter of music publisher Vincent Novello. The book was quick to establish itself as a standard work, reflecting Berlioz's keen understanding of the orchestra as both composer and conductor. It is intended as a textbook on the craft of orchestration and to promote better understanding of the essential character of each instrument. Technical details and sonorities are discussed and illustrated with musical examples from composers Berlioz admired, including Gluck and Beethoven, and from his own compositions. This edition includes a section on new instruments, such as the saxophone and concertina, and on the orchestra, and a discussion on the art of conducting. Today the treatise is an important source of information on musical practices of the time and provides us with valuable insight into Berlioz's imaginative and original thinking as a musician.

Introduction
1. Instruments
2. Instruments played with a bow - the violin
3. The viola
4. The viole d'amour
5. The violincello
6. Double-basses
Stringed instruments played with the hand
Stringed instruments with keys
Wind instruments
Table of transposing and non-transposing instruments
Reed instruments
Wind instruments without reeds
Wind instruments with key-boards
Brass instruments with mouth-pieces
Instruments with a mouth-piece, and of wood
Voices
Instruments of percussion
New instruments
The orchestra
The orchestral conductor - theory of his art.

Subject Areas: Classical music [c 1750 to c 1830 AVGC4]