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Music for Movies: the Hollywood Sound

 

What makes the music for movies so special? Why has making music for media become one of the most sought-after careers in the industry? What are the challenges of this profession and how to properly prepare for succeeding at it?

 

Norman Ludwin, an accomplished American composer and teacher, with over 40 years of experience as a session musician and orchestrator in Hollywood, delves into the core of such questions by focusing on the three fundamental aspects of learning to write music for films: composition, orchestration, and techniques for developing your own material. His hands-on approach cuts though complexities while providing sound foundations and a consistent set of tools of the trade for the modern composer. The information provided is always supported by – and often originates from – a wealth of musical examples, where Dr. Ludwin’s unique analytical style casts light on the path from awareness to creativity.

Topics covered:


·      Workflow and Process

·      Outlining

·      Chord Substitutions

·      Textures

·      Score Reduction

·      Development Charts

·      Orchestration Insights

·      Effective Ranges

·      Instrumental Colors

·      Doublings

·      Orchestration and Arrangement Examples

·      Hollywood Sound Secrets

·      Orchestration and Motivic analysis of Maurice Ravel’s Rapsodie Espagnole Prélude à la nuit


The book also includes a range of exercises, specifically designed to assist readers in honing their orchestration abilities and further developing their musical compositions. All material comes with audio tracks, available online with reserved access.

Aimed at students and teachers of courses in Film Music, as well as aspiring composers for the media, Music for Movies captures the magic of the encounter between the two arts in a practical, approachable, and well-organized way, essential to make your music writing both meaningful and inspiring.

 

¨“Norman has played in my orchestra since my earliest scores, and frequently orchestrates for me as well. In his book, he covers the basics of orchestration from the invaluable point of view of one of Los Angeles' top session players. Orchestration: A New Approach, with its clear analysis and numerous examples from the masters, is a fresh offering of orchestration technique that emphasizes craft and is enjoyable to read.” -Michael Giacchino (Oscar, Emmy and Grammy winning composer)

¨“My first reaction to Norman Ludwin's orchestration book? Where was this wonderful aid when I started orchestrating many years ago? It would have been my constant companion during those early days when I was learning so many things the hard way! My good friend, Norman, has combined his talents as musician, composer, and orchestrator with his gifted teaching skills to author this must-have book for every orchestrator. It is extremely comprehensive, very logical, and best of all, easy to use. I heartily recommend this book as an essential building block for a career in orchestrating. Kudos Norman!” - Tim Simonec (Orchestrator of over 80 films for the past 35 years)

In his treatise on orchestration Dr. Ludwin not only presents an overview of diverse orchestrational approaches  but also illuminates the integral relationship between the orchestrations and the  compositions themselves.

- John Neufeld (Orchestrator for John Williams

 and instrumentalist in the film industry for over 50 years)