The Orchestra: An Online User’s Manual
One of the many positive aspects of the internet, is having so much information readily available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and reachable from any part of the world. If you are always on the look for orchestration or instrumentation information, you are definitely going to like the following website. “The Orchestra: A User’s Manual“, is a powerful online resource for composers, orchestrators, students, useful to anyone with an interest in orchestras and orchestral music or anyone learning to play an instrument. It was conceived and written by Andrew Hugill in 2002-3 and the project was commissioned by the Philharmonia Orchestra.
On the site, players from the Philharmonia Orchestra explain the nature and technical limitations of their instruments with the intention to represent a realistic picture of the orchestra. The great thing about the site, is the use of video clips for explanations. The manual includes information about instrument construction, ranges, techniques, effects, and extended player’s tips and tricks, as well as resources, historical information and pointing to other helpful links.
The following paragraph is a description taken from the site:
“The aim of the user’s manual is to provide information about the orchestra, orchestration, composition and instruments, for the benefit of anybody with an interest in the subject. Unlike conventional text-based orchestration manuals, this features movies of players explaining relevant aspects of their instruments and technique, audio clips and samples of the instruments, and illustrative music from the repertoire drawn from the Philharmonia’s postwar recorded archive. The Philharmonia is the most recorded orchestra in history and from its birth in 1945 has been associated with new technologies. This use of the internet to convey information is entirely consistent with its desire to open up access to all areas of orchestral life and music-making.”
The Orchestra: A User’s Manual is one element of ‘The Sound Exchange‘, a site that provides opportunities for people to learn about the orchestra, about music and exploit the internet to help widen access to the orchestra.
Music Composition Directory
We are very excited to introduce Composersnewpencil’s music composition link directory. 
If you are a composer, songwriter, etc., please feel free to submit your site(s) or your favorite music composition related website(s). Our intention is to build a targeted and quality content directory. All links will be personally reviewed for consideration. The main categories include: classical composition, electronic art music, film scoring, jazz composition & arranging, songwriting, experimental pop & rock, music technology and finally stores & products. Subcategories include: composer and artist sites, resources, communities and organizations among others. New categories can also be suggested.
The directory is brand new, so some categories do not contain links yet. All feedback is welcome.
Charles Mingus - What is a Jazz Composer?
A performance of Mingus’s Epitaph
Rodolfo Zuniga – Contemporary Jazz Musician
Jazz Interview of the Month / Sounds
This month we feature an interview with jazz drummer and composer Rodolfo Zuniga. Born in San Jose, Costa Rica and now residing in Miami Florida, Zuniga is the leader of The Rodolfo Zuniga Quintet, a young contemporary jazz group that is causing a stir in the Miami music scene. Zuniga released his debut album Premonition last November 2006, including compositions by himself (listen to tracks below), Fernando Ulibarri and Rob Smiley. In 2005, his band was featured in a one week residency with Dave Douglas that culminated in a concert at Carnegie Hall. Zuniga is also active as a sideman in the South Florida scene with jazz names like Gary Campbell, Michael Gerber, Alex Norris, Othello Molineaux and Ira Sullivan. In our recent interview with him, we had the opportunity to hear about the views and insight of a young jazz musician and composer of today. Read more