Principles of Orchestration, with Musical Examples Drawn from His Own Works

by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov

Note. Notes in unison resulting from correct duplication need not be avoided, for although the tone in such cases is not absolutely uniform, the ear will be satisfied with the correct progression of parts.

Consecutive octaves between the upper parts are not permissible:

Bad:
	[[Listen]]

Consecutive fifths resulting from the duplication of the three upper parts moving in chords of sixths are of no importance:

Good:
	[[Listen]]

The bass of an inversion of the dominant chord should never be doubled in any of the upper parts:

Good:		Bad:
	[[Listen]]		[[Listen]]

This applies also to other chords of the seventh and diminished seventh:

Bad:		Good:
	[[Listen]]		[[Listen]]

The rules of harmony concerning sustained and pedal passages apply with equal force to orchestral writing. As regards passing and auxiliary notes, échappées, considerable licence is permitted in rapid passages of different texture: