OUR
5-STAR REVIEWS
Testimonials:
A
Wealth of Information
I
have to admit to some personal bias in positing this review.
A few years ago, I commuted from my home in Hampton, Virginia,
down to North Carolina to take some composition lessons with
Vince Corozine. Vince showed me some preliminary chapters of
a book he was working on and asked me to read and make some
comments on what he had done. His goal was to discuss contemporary
arranging techniques and compare those techniques with the compositional
style of the great composers of the western European tradition.
I have just finished reading the completed book for the first
time and I think that Vince fulfilled his goal admirably. In
addition to being a master composer/arranger and an inspiring
teacher, Vince is also a warm and generous person. These traits
are in full bloom in this book. As well as providing a wealth
of information about arranging and composition, the tone of
the book reflects Vince's joy of music making and his willingness
to share his encyclopedic knowledge of the subject. I especially
liked Chapter 6, A Brief Historical Survey of Orchestration,
where Vince compares orchestration styles from the Baroque to
the Impressionistic periods. Vince has included numerous examples
from his own arrangements and original compositions, which reinforces
the fact that this is no mere academic exercise. There are abundant
musical examples in the text and accompanying CD, which includes
selections, most or all, arranged or composed by Vince. This
book is sure to be a welcome addition to the literature, as
both a manual of instruction and as a reference work in itself-a
great contribution from one of America's outstanding composer/arrangers.
Kevin
Piccini, Oboist, Virginia Symphony
A
Must for the Arranger's Library
Where
was
this masterful book "Arranging Music for the Real World"
when I needed it? As a young "road" musician, early
in the stages of arranging, I used to ask reputable arrangers
how they had become so knowledgeable and learned to write so
well. Unequivocally they all gave the same answer, "I studied
the analyzed scores of the "Masters."
The
author of this excellent book, Vince Corozine, uses this unique
concept (the basic principles of arranging and orchestration),
as the basis of his book, showing how composers of the past
used them and how they effectively may be used today to achieve
a fresh contemporary sound. Mr. Corozine has fulfilled his goal
admirably, with the inclusion of music of all genres: jazz,
symphonic, pop, choral, Broadway, film, and television scores.
Not
only does he display samples of his own compositions and the
"Masters," he demonstrates his works beautifully on
a CD that comes with the book. If you feel your arrangements
and compositions lack the excitement, tonal color and sophistication
that you so desire, then this book is your answer. As a professional
musician and music educator, I highly recommend "Arranging
Music for the Real World."
Feliz
Mayerhofer, Trombonist/Arranger/Teacher, California
Bridges
the Gap!
In
writing "Arranging Music for the Real World," Mr.
Corozine succeeded in bridging the gap between the classical
and the contemporary styles. Through examples, he shows how
the techniques used by the great composers can be applied successfully
in modern writing. This is a "one stop" manual that
should be an essential tool in the library of every arranger
and serious music student, as well as every serious performer.
The
performer always needs to understand the composition that he/she
is performing. Through the analysis of different styles and
the many examples contained in this book, one has a clear understanding
of the musical line, which will invariably improve the performance.
The
fact that many examples can be heard instantly on the accompanying
CD, adds another dimension, thereby increasing one's sense of
reality.
All
of the tracks on the CD are expertly and beautifully played
by the best of professional musicians.
Mario
Tacca, Musician/Conductor/Arranger, New York
Informative
and Useful
Vince
Corozine's new "Arranging Music for the Real World"
is the answer to a budding arranger's and composer's prayer
for a book that is readily understandable, informative and useful.
Other adjectives might be: logical, well-paced and interesting.
While
the principle emphasis is on so-called "commercial music"
(not used in the pejorative sense in this instance!) There is
very valuable material here. There is also much to be learned
from the section on basic composition. This is not presented
in a dry textbook manner, but as the living "flesh and
blood" of real music, and it is rich with excellent examples,
written out in clearly readable notation, and it can be heard
on the excellent CD that accompanies the book.
It
begins with basics but leads the student logically into materials
of considerable sophistication. The distribution between material
on "pop" styles and "classical" styles is
well-balanced and equally insightful. Especially helpful are
perceptive comments relating to musical aesthetics.
Vince's
thoroughness in practical instruction does not deprive encouragement
of the student's realizing the importance of subtle and meaningful
expression which music must have to communicate effectively.
Bravo!
Robert
Washburn, Composer/Past Dean of Crane Music School SUNY Potsdam,
New York
Very
Helpful
Corozine's
text has been sorely needed by studying arrangers for quite
some time; classical focused books have addressed instrument
ranges and effects applicable to those specific instruments
through orchestral literature, and commercial ones give little
information on practical uses of specific techniques. Corozine's
text not only covers these two areas, but also is careful to
contrast different treatments of arranging the same music. the
accompanying compact disc is very helpful in illustrating Corozine's
points. In all, a book I wish I has while studying for my own
master's degree in arranging in the mid 1990's. Well done!
A
reader from California
Thorough/Easy
to Understand
I
only recently discovered your book, Arranging Music for the
Real World. As a young college student, I often found the subjects
of orchestration and arranging a bit intimidating. Most of what
I learned was through painful trial and error. Now, I find that
most of the quesions that I had back then are answered in your
book. I have a few books on the subject and I must say that
it is not often that one find a text that is both thorough and
easy to understand. I only wish that I had found it sooner.
My
sincere thanks,
Robert, New York City