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CarlJ
New member
I am interested in reading about how to add percussion to a midi orchestra score for a play… Any help is appreciated
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mikeh
New member
I have not seen any books specific on MIDI drums for orchestra. I do have a couple of books that are interesting (but not sure if it's what you need).
1. Arranging Techniques for Synthesists, by Eric Turkel 1988 Amsco Publications
2. Sounds & Scores, By Henry Mancini 1973/1986 Northridge Music, Inc
The Turkel book is a good "practical" book on modern arranging (although fairly basic info re: percussion)
The Mancini book is interesting because it came with cassettes with various scores (which the book references) this is weak on drum kit info but pretty informative re: marimba and other percussion parts in an orchestral score. However, Mancini is more "old school".
If you want a reference to drum machine patterns, in various contemporary and ethnic styles, there is an old book originally designed for the old Roland machines like TR606 (written in the traditional graphic window display - but the patterns are good patterns). The name of that book is:
Roland Drum Machines - Rhythm Dictionary, by Sandy Feldstein (I think 1985)
I'm assuming you reference orchestral percussion (timpani, vibes, etc) vs. drum kit. In which case you may be better off looking for books on arranging for orchestra. However, if you have the chops (and the ear) to compose an orchestra score for a play - you may be better off getting movies (or soundtracks) from the library and listen, listen, listen.
By the way, listen to anything by Danny Elfman (Batman, Nightmare Before X-mas, Edward Scisserhands - and the new Planet Of the Apes - among many others) - the guy creates incredible scores!! He has two CD's out of just his movie/TV themes.
1. Arranging Techniques for Synthesists, by Eric Turkel 1988 Amsco Publications
2. Sounds & Scores, By Henry Mancini 1973/1986 Northridge Music, Inc
The Turkel book is a good "practical" book on modern arranging (although fairly basic info re: percussion)
The Mancini book is interesting because it came with cassettes with various scores (which the book references) this is weak on drum kit info but pretty informative re: marimba and other percussion parts in an orchestral score. However, Mancini is more "old school".
If you want a reference to drum machine patterns, in various contemporary and ethnic styles, there is an old book originally designed for the old Roland machines like TR606 (written in the traditional graphic window display - but the patterns are good patterns). The name of that book is:
Roland Drum Machines - Rhythm Dictionary, by Sandy Feldstein (I think 1985)
I'm assuming you reference orchestral percussion (timpani, vibes, etc) vs. drum kit. In which case you may be better off looking for books on arranging for orchestra. However, if you have the chops (and the ear) to compose an orchestra score for a play - you may be better off getting movies (or soundtracks) from the library and listen, listen, listen.
By the way, listen to anything by Danny Elfman (Batman, Nightmare Before X-mas, Edward Scisserhands - and the new Planet Of the Apes - among many others) - the guy creates incredible scores!! He has two CD's out of just his movie/TV themes.
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CarlJ
New member
Yes, Thanks VERY much...
It just so happened that my local Library had one of those books you mentioned (Nice change) so I will check it out. I have put the score of someone else’s play into a sequencer and was wanting to add some percussion (Or maybe even some drum kit type of thing) and was wondering if there were any suggestions as the where to start on this type of thing. I guess it has sort of been my idea that I would try to make the sound similar to the type of group that you would really have in the pit of a smaller community play. I am liking how it is starting to sound and it is getting to be quite a bit of fun to see what the addition of different instruments and sounds makes to the way the show will sound.
It just so happened that my local Library had one of those books you mentioned (Nice change) so I will check it out. I have put the score of someone else’s play into a sequencer and was wanting to add some percussion (Or maybe even some drum kit type of thing) and was wondering if there were any suggestions as the where to start on this type of thing. I guess it has sort of been my idea that I would try to make the sound similar to the type of group that you would really have in the pit of a smaller community play. I am liking how it is starting to sound and it is getting to be quite a bit of fun to see what the addition of different instruments and sounds makes to the way the show will sound.