For anyone serious about orchestration and big band writing, few names carry as much weight as Don Sebesky
Finally, he synthesizes everything. How do you blend a flute with a flugelhorn? How do you write a shout chorus that utilizes full brass and reeds? How do you build an arrangement from a 2-minute demo to a 6-minute epic? don sebesky the contemporary arranger pdf
This is where Sebesky changed the game. He taught jazz and pop arrangers how to write for strings without sounding like a bad imitation of Mantovani. He covers divisi, sul ponticello, tremolo, and how to use the string section as a pad that supports the soloist without overwhelming them. His discussion on "string writing for non-string players" is invaluable for horn players trying to orchestrate. For anyone serious about orchestration and big band
In the pantheon of arranging texts, names like Rimsky-Korsakov, Walter Piston, and Samuel Adler dominate academic shelves. But for those working in jazz, film, and commercial music, there is another, often overlooked cornerstone: (originally published in 1975 by Alfred Music). How do you build an arrangement from a
DLS Source. All rights reserved. © 2026