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The Craft of Musical Composition: Book 2 (Stap/067)

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This book is the practical application of the principles Hindemith discusses in his theoretical volume of the "Craft of Musical Composition". There fifty-six exercises, two hundred and fifty-one musical examples and sixty-two rules for composition in this small volume. It is meant to be used by students with a skilled teacher who is also an able composer. The approach is intensely practical and is meant to build skill in actually writing music rather than empty exercises to demonstrate this or that rule.

Again, the methodology here is based on Hindemith's ideas of composition and theory. Do not expect to be writing exercises in the style of Palestrina, Bach, or Mozart. There are charts and explanations here that will be opaque without having a grounding in the theoretical volume of his "Craft of Musical Composition". You could do much worse than studying these two volumes, but you do have to make a judgment about whether the juice is worth the squeeze.

Read it if you want to be a composer. I mean it. Hindemith did a great job with this book (you should buy the first volume too). I will not tell you what you'll find in this book, experience your self. Read and learn.