Berlioz's Orchestration Treatise
A Translation and Commentary

Provides both a translation and detailed commentary on Berlioz's own practice as an orchestrator.

Berlioz (Author), Hugh Macdonald (Edited by)

9780521036115, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 23 April 2007

432 pages, 13 b/w illus. 187 music examples
24.3 x 17 x 1.7 cm, 0.688 kg

"When I received the book, I confidently expected a good modern translation of this seminal work on orchestration and an informative commentary. My expectations were exceeded in both respects. A better translation and commentary than the present one can scarcely be imagined. Indeed, as far as commentary is concerned, this book is an essential reference tool for scholars of every nationality and for all performers of Berlioz's music." Journal of Musicological Research

Berlioz's Orchestration Treatise is a classic textbook which has been used as a guide to orchestration and as a source book for the understanding both of Berlioz's music and of orchestral practice in the nineteenth century. This was the first English translation of Berlioz's complete text since 1856, and it is accompanied throughout by Hugh Macdonald's extensive and authoritative commentary on the instruments of Berlioz's time and on his own orchestral practice, as revealed in his scores. It also includes extracts from Berlioz's writings on instruments in his Memoirs and in his many articles for the Parisian press. The Treatise has been highly valued both for its technical information about instruments but also for its poetic and visionary approach to the art of instrumentation. Berlioz was not only one of the great orchestrators of the nineteenth century, he was also the author with the clearest understanding of the art.

List of illustrations
Preface
A note on the edition
A note on the translation
Acknowledgements
List of abbreviations
The Treatise
Introduction
1. Bowed strings
2. Plucked strings
3. Strings with keyboard
4. Wind: introduction
5. Wind with reeds
6. Wind without reeds
7. Wind with keyboard
8. Brass with mouthpiece
9. Woodwind with mouthpiece
10. Voices
11. Pitched percussion
12. Unpitched percussion
13. New instruments
14. The orchestra
15. The conductor and his art
Appendix: Berlioz's writing on instruments
Bibliography
General index
Index of Berlioz's works.

Subject Areas: Romantic music [c 1830 to c 1900 AVGC5]