Orchestral Scores

tcutrpt · Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2002 9:44 pm Post subject:

I'm looking for a website or catolog that sells full orchestral scores. It's about time I start studying them and I would appreciate any info on where y'all have bought scores in the past. Cheap is also good! Thanks guys.

matt

johntpt · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2002 6:47 am Post subject:

For inexpensive study scores you can't beat Dover. They have published scores to much of the standard repertoire and are readily available at most Border's or Barnes & Noble stores. If you like combing used book stores they can often be found for even less.

John Urness

jstrpt · New Member Joined: 15 Apr 2002 Posts: 2

For Dover scores try Patelson's Music in NY or Luck's Music. Many of the Dover scores will also contain more than one piece by the composer.

tcutrpt · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2002 10:28 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info guys. One final question. Are the miniature scores good enough for study or should I invest the extra money and get the larger versions? Also, does anyone know where I can get a score of Symphonic Metamorphasis? I couldn't find a Dover published edition. It is my audition piece for orchestra next fall. Thanks!

Matt

walter · Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2002 7:29 am Post subject:

[ This Message was edited by: walter on 2002-09-20 08:01 ]

PC · Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2002 7:57 am Post subject:

Matt,

I also recommend the Dovers for readability, or any other full-page score. It is very annoying with pocket scores when on some pages, due to too many instruments playing, you have to turn the book by 90 degrees and try to figure out who's who.

I strongly recommend taking the time to read as much of the score as you can, this will be a great sight-read and transposition exercise, figuring out the different clefs etc. It will help you place your part in context.

Way back, when I was more patient and enthusiastic, I would go to a music library, get scores and read them without hearing the music. I would read once through, concentrating on the strings and trying to hear melody, harmony and to some extent make sense of counterpoint. I would then re-read the score, looking at woodwind and then brass, trying to remember what the others were supposed to play. I ran through all the Bruckner, Mahler, Beethoven, Strauss, Tchaikovsky and many more scores and have built quite a collection at home. Then, when hearing a CD or getting to play a work, you are much more intimate with it and the way the composer achieves the sound effects.

FWIW,
Pierre.