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How to Write for PERCUSSION by Samuel Z. Solomon

Posted: 10 Oct 2015, 18:35
by OCTO
...a comprehensive text that clearly explains and simplifies all issues that percussionists and composers face with respect to each other. Written from a percussionist's perspective, it examines the behind-the-scenes processes to uncover all the tools the composer needs to comfortably create innovative and skilled percussion composition.
ISBN-13: 978-0974472102
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Comment: does anyone have this book? Comments by/for composers and engravers? It looks interesting. Writing correctly for percussion is very tricky.

Re: How to Write for PERCUSSION by Samuel Z. Solomon

Posted: 10 Oct 2015, 21:10
by Schneider
No, I don't.
But yes pretty interesting.
Thanks for the tip.

Re: How to Write for PERCUSSION by Samuel Z. Solomon

Posted: 10 Oct 2015, 22:30
by Alexander Ploetz
I have it in my library and can not recommend it enough, it is one of the most useful of its kind, as it is not just a collection of rules, but aims at actually providing the reader with a percussionists perspective.

You should have a strong stomach though for a number of the engraved examples, which sometimes have been set a bit crudely with early twenty-noughts software.

Re: How to Write for PERCUSSION by Samuel Z. Solomon

Posted: 11 Oct 2015, 06:02
by OCTO
Alexander, thank you very much for that comment.
It will be ordered now!

Re: How to Write for PERCUSSION by Samuel Z. Solomon

Posted: 11 Oct 2015, 13:20
by Ron
I guess I know what book I'll buy myself for Christmas this year with the money gifts that I receive.

Re: How to Write for PERCUSSION by Samuel Z. Solomon

Posted: 11 Oct 2015, 18:45
by David Ward
As far as I can see, there is an expanded 2nd edition due in April 2016 with a reduced price offered for orders placed in advance.

Re: How to Write for PERCUSSION by Samuel Z. Solomon

Posted: 30 Aug 2016, 04:41
by OCTO
I have ordered this new edition (the Second) and received it recently.
As stated above, some music examples are far from being "the state of engraving art", but the book for itself is definitely EXTREMELY useful. Any composer, editor, engraver or copyist should have it. Order it now. :)

Re: How to Write for PERCUSSION by Samuel Z. Solomon

Posted: 02 Sep 2016, 03:26
by DatOrganistTho
One thing I'd like to warn, considering I have a relative who is a professional (concert) percussionist, that these sorts of engraving issues are still on this side of convention and passe. Because of the uniqueness and relative age of percussion notation, even though there is a general consensus in the industry, there is also a lot of misinformation, "making due with what you have", and re-inventing of the wheel.

That being said, most solo percussion works I've come across utilize a generally agreed view of articulations, and modeling for certain instruments.

But, there are some things that will downright confuse a percussionist who has seen notation change so often.

It's generally very helpful to put tables indicating "common use" for the instruments as a reference in case something is not explained well or in its own context cannot be determined.

Re: How to Write for PERCUSSION by Samuel Z. Solomon

Posted: 05 Sep 2016, 09:23
by David Ward
My copy (2nd edition) has just arrived in this morning's post. £20 from Amazon UK, paperback edition (except that the 'paper' cover is some rather weird plastic-like substance).

It looks a useful guide, especially as I will soon be embarking on a piece in which one of the musicians is to be a virtuoso percussionist. (Commissioned for first performance Oct/Nov 2017.)