Principles of orchestration : with musical examples drawn from his own works

1912·30 MB·English

by  Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolay, 1844-1908

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NICOLAS RIMSKY-KORSAKOW
PRINCIPLES
OF
ORCHESTRATION
WITH MUSICAL EXAMPLES DRAWN FROM HIS OWN WORKS
EDITED BY
MAXIMILIAN STEINBERG
ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY
EDWARD AGATE
KALMUS ORCHESTRA SCORES, INC.
E. F.
209 WEST 57th STREET
NEW YORK, N. Y.
Printed in U.S.A.
MUSIC LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY or COUi^^CTlCUT
C0.*4N^CriCUT
STORRS,
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CONTENTS
page
Editor's Preface VII—XII
Extract from the Author's preface (1891) 1
Extract from the Preface to the last edition 5
—
T'hapter I. General review of orchestral groups
A. String-ed instruments 6
B. Wind instruments:
Wood-wind 12
Brass 21
C. Instruments of little sustaining power:
Plucked strings 26
Pizzicato 27
Harp 27
Percussion instruments producing determinate sounds, keyed
instruments
Kettle-drums 29
, ,
Piano and Celesta 30
Glockenspiel, Bells, Xylophone 32
Percussion instruments producing indefinite sounds 32
Comparison of resonance in orchestral groups, and combination 33
of different tone qualities
—
Chapter Melody
II.
Melody in stringed instruments 36
Grouping in unison 39
Stringed instruments doubling in octaves 40
Melody in double octaves 44
«4 Doubling in three and four octaves 45
fX Melody in thirds and sixths 45
Melody in the wood-wind 46
~"^ Combination in unison 47
Combination in octaves 49
Doubling in two, three and foiir octaves 51
Melody in thirds and sixths 52
Thirds and sixths together 53
Melody in the brass 53
.......
'^ Brass in unison, in octaves, thirds and sixths 55
IV
page
Melody in different groups of instruments combined together . 56
A. Combination of wind and brass in unison 56
B. Combination of wind and brass in octaves 57
C. Combination of strings and wind 58
D. Combination of strings and brass 61
E. Combination of the three groups 61
—
Chapter 111. Harmony
General observations 63
—
Number of harmonic parts Duplication 64
Distribution of notes in chords 67
String harmony 69
Wood-wind harmony 71
Four-part and three-part harmony 72
Harmony in several parts 76
Duplication of timbres 77
Remarks 78
Harmony in the brass 82
Four-part writing 82
Three-part writing 84
Writing in several parts 84
Duplication in the brass 85
Harmony in combined groups 88
A. Combination of wind and brass . . . . 88
1. In unison 88
2. Overlaying, crossing, enclosure of parts 90
B. Combination of strings and wind 94
C. Combination of the three groups 95
—
Chapter IV. Composition of the orchestra
Different ways of orchestrating the same music 97
Full Tutu 101
Tutti in the wind 103
Tuiti pizzicato 103
Tutti in one, two and three parts 104
Soli in the strings 104
Limits of orchestral range 106
Transference of passages and phrases 107
Chords of different tone quality used alternately 108
Amplification and elimination of tone qualities 109
Repetition of phrases, imitation, echo 110
Sforzando-piano and piano-sforzando chords HI
Method of emphasising certain notes and chords Ill
Crescendo and diminuendo 112
Diverging and converging progressions 113
Tone quality as a harmonic force. Harmonic basis 114
Artificial effects 116
....
Use of percussion instruments for rhythm and colour 117
Economy in orchestral colour 118