I'm giving this four stars instead of three for sentiment's sake. It is probably invaluable for a Rimsky-Korsakov scholar, but...well, let me put it this way: I've owned the book for nearly a decade, and I never, ever use it. For sound practical advice I can do no better than recommend Walter Piston's ORCHESTRATION and Cecil Forsyth's ORCHESTRATION.Also recommended: THE LYDIAN-CHROMATIC CONCEPT OF TONAL ORGANIZATION by George Russell.