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.
A performance of Mingus’s 
will take place at Lincoln Center in New York City, on April 25, 2007. The music will be directed by composer Gunther Schuller, who also directed the premiere 18 years ago. Epitaph is a two-hour composition that was completely discovered during the cataloguing process after Mingus’s death. It was premiered by a 30-piece orchestra on June 3, 1989, ten years after his death (watch some video clips from the Epitaph performance from 1989 
that was released on Columbia Records, in 1971. They appear on the record under the tittle of “What is a Jazz Composer?”, and present some of Mingus’s thoughts on being a jazz composer and musician. 
This month we feature an interview with jazz drummer and composer 
NEW YORK — Following a two and a half year battle with MDS and then leukemia, tenor saxophonist 
This 200 page book by jazz arranger Rayburn Wright published in 1982, includes a detailed analysis of 8 classic charts by Sammy Nestico (Basie, Straight Ahead, Hay Burner), Thad Jones (Three and One, Kids are Pretty People, Us), and Bob Brookmeyer (Hello and Goodbye, First Love Song, ABC Blues). It also includes a CD with all 8 arrangements played by the University of Minnesota Jazz Ensemble. Before each complete score is presented, there are study notes explaining melodic construction, harmony, form, orchestration, voicings and substitute chords included in the arrangement. Includes complete scores and an interview with each arranger.