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MUSI2076 Instrumentation and Orchestration 1
Course Type: disciplinary elective for music majors/minors, free elective for others
Prerequisite: NIL
Instructor: Dr. Joshua CHAN
Semester: Second Semester 2022/23
Time: 12:30pm – 2:20pm, Friday
Venue: CRT-11.01 Seminar Room
This course aims to equip students with a comprehensive knowledge of the range, timbre, and characteristics of standard orchestral instruments and the techniques of combining these instruments in various ensemble and orchestral settings. Timbral contrast, chord spacing, textural variety, musical phrasing and interpretation will also be discussed in the context of orchestration. The teaching materials are derived from examples of classical, contemporary and commercial music. Students are expected to submit scores in professional presentation (i.e., with clear performance instructions, unambiguous part assignment, good legibility, etc) and basic audio reference of electronic playback.
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Course Learning Outcomes
Assessment Methods
Topics
Text & Resource Materials
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
  • demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics of orchestral instruments;
  • recognise the aesthetic diversity of different orchestration thoughts;
  • apply critical judgement on the effectiveness of various ways to shape musical phrasing with timbral and textural means;
  • create reasonable works of orchestration with competent scoring and clear instructions for performers.
Attendance and Participation 5%
10 Assignments 60%
Final Project 35%
  • overview of string instruments
  • special playing techniques on strings
  • transcription and arrangement for strings
  • overview of wind instruments
  • features of individual woodwinds
  • transcription for woodwind choir
  • writing for harp
  • features of individual brass instruments
  • transcription for brass choir
  • overview of percussion
  • orchestration techniques
  • writing for medium-size orchestra
  • Adler, Samuel. The Study of Orchestration. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2016.
  • Bajzek, Dieter. Percussion: an Annotated Bibliography with Special Emphasis on Contemporary Notation and Performance. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1988.
  • Blatter, Alfred. Instrumentation and Orchestration. 2nd ed. New York: Schirmer Books, 1997.
  • Hartenberger, Russell. The Cambridge Companion to Percussion. Oxford: CUP, 2016.
  • Kennan, Kent Wheeler, and Donald Granthan. The Technique of Orchestration. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, N. J.: Prentice-Hall, 2002.
  • Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolay. Principles of Orchestration. Edited by Maximilian Steinberg. Trans. by Edward Agate. 1922. Reprint (2 vols. in 1). New York: Dover Publications, 1964.
  • Shatzkin, Merton. Writing for the Orchestra: An Introduction to Orchestration. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1993.