The Contemporary Arranger: Comb Bound Book & CD

This is the definitive resource from someone who has shaped modern arranging across Broadway, jazz, and popular music. The included CD features performances by world-class musicians like George Benson and Freddie Hubbard, giving you real-world examples of the concepts you're studying rather than synthetic demonstrations. The comb binding makes it genuinely usable as both a study text and a reference you'll return to throughout your arranging practice.

Clear and methodical, without condescension. The writing assumes you know music and want to understand the principles that separate good arranging from great arranging. The CD performances ground the theory in actual artistry, letting you hear what mastery sounds like.

Arrangers and composers at intermediate level and beyond who want to deepen their understanding of orchestration, voicing, and scoring techniques. Teachers of arranging courses and jazz educators will find this an essential text for their curriculum. Anyone working in musical theater, jazz, or contemporary ensemble writing will benefit from Sebesky's direct, authoritative approach.

• Study the CD examples alongside the text, pausing to listen for specific orchestration choices Sebesky highlights in each chapter.
• Work through the examples on your instrument or at the piano to internalize how theoretical concepts translate into actual sound.
• Use the lay-flat binding to keep the book open next to your manuscript paper while you're writing your own arrangements.
• Return to relevant sections whenever you encounter a specific arranging challenge in your own work, rather than reading straight through.

Pair this with your advanced theory or composition curriculum as the primary text for an arranging course. Musicians preparing to work professionally in any commercial or theatrical context will return to this book repeatedly throughout their careers.

• Orchestration for various ensemble sizes and instrumental combinations
• Harmonic voicing and reharmonization techniques
• Score layout and practical notation for performers
• Balancing and blending instruments in an arrangement
• Adapting melodies and themes for different instrumental colors
• Understanding the role of the arranger in different musical contexts