The Contemporary Arranger: Definitive Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book is the best one I have yet seen on the art of arranging for jazz bands and other contemporary/pop ensembles. It is full from beginning to end not only with all the standard info about instrument ranges, which instruments sound best in which voicings, etc., but also full of interesting little gems designed to inform the budding arranger about the realities of the music industry. Things like "All professional trumpet players carry with them a straight mute, cup mute, harmon mute, felt hat, and sometimes a plunger. Any other special mutes must be requested in advance of a performance or recording session" (page 13). Also tips on how best to record particular instruments in the studio, and things to look out for in this regard. "Of all the members of the woodwind family, the bassoon is the hardest to record properly, having the tendency to become lost when combined with other instruments.... it... is most effective when the texture of the passage in which it is used is transparent enough for the bassoon to be heard clearly."

To all of those reviewers at this site and the other page for this book, the CD *does* in fact match the examples in the book. The book specifies between regular written examples (not included on the CD), and *recorded examples*, which are on the CD. The listing on pages viii and ix accurately reflect the listing on the CD and the appropriate text in the book that matches each example.

The examples of various sounds possible on the stringed instruments and the French horn, are particularly helpful in matching up the standard musical terms "detache," "parlando," etc. with that particular sound.

Overall, an excellent book both for beginners and folks with some background who are looking to expand into jazz-style sounds.

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Product Description:
An authoritative, easy-to-understand text covering all aspects of arranging. This beautifully bound edition contains a compact disc with examples performed by jazz greats such as George Benson, Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws and Don Sebesky's complete orchestra.

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