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MUSI2076 Instrumentation and Orchestration
Course Type: disciplinary elective for music majors/minors, free elective for others
Prerequisite: NIL
Instructor: Miss Jing WANG
Semester: First Semester 2024/25
Time: 12:30pm–2:20pm, Wednesday
Venue: CRT-11.01 Seminar Room
This course provides students with a working knowledge of the instruments of the modern orchestra. Instrumentation study investigates the technical idiosyncrasies and timbral potential of individual instruments. Orchestration covers fundamental techniques in combining instruments for various ensemble contexts. Throughout the course students will undertake analysis, listening, and scoring projects, and will acquire the skills to create professional-quality scores and parts.
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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 an understanding of fundamental instrumentation and orchestral writing;
  • apply orchestration skills effectively to shape musical phrasing through timbral and textural means;
  • recognize and appreciate the aesthetic diversity in orchestration across different historical periods.
Four Assignments 40% (4 x 10%)
Final Test 25%
Final Project 35%
  • overview of orchestration
  • instrumentation of string instruments
  • practical application of strings in orchestra
  • instrumentation of woodwinds
  • practical application of woodwinds in orchestra
  • instrumentation of brass instruments
  • practical application of brass instruments in orchestra
  • writing for percussion
  • writing for harp, keyboard and other instruments
  • orchestration before the 20th century
  • orchestration after the 20th century
  • 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.
  • Gould, Elaine. Behind Bars: The Definitive Guide to Music Notation. Illustrated edition. Van Nuys: Alfred Music, 2011.
  • Hartenberger, Russell. The Cambridge Companion to Percussion. New York: Cambridge University Press, 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.