Full Description
Insights into Music Composition is a guide and source of inspiration for beginning students of music composition. Drawing on perspectives from a range of experienced composers, the book introduces readers to the compositional process, emphasizing how to think about creating a piece of music from beginning to end by providing not only a survey of methods but also an understanding of the overarching context for composition. The authors present student composers with the tools to develop their own voice, covering topics such as:
methods for harnessing inspiration and creativity
how to give shape, context, and meaning to a piece of music and create moments that audiences will remember
the value in exploring the music of other cultures and music's interdisciplinarity
atonal and 12-tone techniques and the roles of form and style
the benefits and pitfalls of student-teacher relationships and the importance of building relationships with performers
Combining content from class scenarios with discussion questions, practical exercises, an annotated guide of online resources, and a glossary of terms, the text's flexible structure allows chapters to be read through in order or drawn on by topic. Clear and accessible, Insights into Music Composition is an ideal resource for all students and instructors of music composition.
Contents
1. Inspiration and Creativity / 2. Universal Principles / 3. Compositional Process: Getting Started / 4. Development of Musical Ideas / 5. Building Upon Prior Music: Plagiarism, Quotes, Techniques / 6. Technique, Notation / 7. Lyrics, Prosody, Singers (Elizabeth Croy and Cheryl Hart) / 8. Form, Texture, Style, and Harmonic Language / 9. Writing Atonal and 12-Tone Music / 10. Global Perspective: Cultural Influences / 11. Interdisciplinarity / 12. Listening Critically / 13. Diverse Perspectives on Composition / 14. Subjectivity, Sensitivity, and Professor-Student Mentorship / 15. Getting Successful Performances / 16. Online Resources
