The Benefits of Score Study (with Andrew Callo) | Ep16

Apr 10, 2023

Andrew Callo, a talented composer and arranger known for his contributions to the Air Force Band, highlights the transformative power of score study. He discusses how analyzing orchestral scores can deepen understanding of harmony, orchestration, and melodic development. Callo shares insights on navigating score transpositions, the practical challenges of using miniature scores, and recommends resources for musicians. The conversation also touches on the evolution of orchestration techniques, emphasizing the artistry behind creating music that resonates with both emotion and technical mastery.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

The Art of Score Study

02:10 • 26min

The Art of Orchestration

28:24 • 7min

Navigating Score Transposition and Resources for Musicians

34:56 • 4min

Exploring the Challenges and Tools of Score Study

38:57 • 2min

Exploring Music Scores: Resources and Recommendations

41:00 • 2min

Mastering Score Study Techniques

42:49 • 26min

Exploring Musical Inspiration and Innovative Scheduling Tools

01:08:37 • 5min

One of the great ways to learn how music works is to study written scores. There are different ways to approach this but, in this episode, we're mainly talking about orchestral scores and improving the knowledge of harmonies, orchestration, development of melodic material, ear training, and more all directly from existing pieces of music from the composers themselves.

Our guest is Andrew Callo, a composer and arranger who has done a lot of work with the Air Force Band and a number of other concert works. We talk about the benefits of score study to improving the ability to compose and arrange music.

Music Excerpts in this episode are:

(18:10) Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 (mvt I) - performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Herbert Von Karajan

(48:42) Holst: The Planets (Mars) - Berlin Philharmonic; Simon Rattle

(55:53) R. Strauss: Aus Italien (III. Andantino) - Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra; Ondrej Lenard

(1:01:18) R. Strauss: Don Quixote (var. VII) - Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Fritz Reiner

(1:02:28) Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 (I) - Berlin Philharmonic; Von Karajan

(1:03:07) Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 (IV) - Berlin Philharmonic; Von Karajan

(1:06:00) Stravinsky: The Firebird (Introduction) - Philharmonia Orchestra; Robert Craft

Andrew's additional notes are located here: https://www.davidlanemusic.com/_files/ugd/8c856b_addc1e9b18ca471a81a5747d3d6caf67.pdf

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