Favourite Composition Devices

You know what man, whatever works. Whatever works. If I were to choose a technique that I love doing, particularly for theater works, is stealing cues from popular songs, national anthems, and cliched stereotypes (i.e. chinese chords) for humourous effect.

I love tenor saxes...grainger said it best
double stroke snare rolls
suspended cymbal and timpani rolls together
timpani and chime doubling
marimba and low clarinet doublings (really, check out gillingham's piece "Be Thou, My Vision. It's beautiful)
quiet, light sections played by the woods and then fortissimo, ball-shattering brass syncopation (grainger again )
I could go on...just check out a score of Lincolnshire Posy. It's an amazing sound. Especially the 5th movement. It starts in free time, every note given by the conductor. or the third movement, with high piccolo doubled with low clarinet...or bassoon, i forget which. It's all very good stuff

Tenor saxes -

I don't believe that last quote by Igor. Music, which is the product of sound interpreted by human beings to be aesthetically pleasing, is inherently expression. Sound, which comprises music, is not inherently expression.

As for my own techniques, I like traditional harmony normally... but also, well-placed dissonances that aren't used traditionally (a la Whitacre) can be very beautiful. I need to do more of that. I love ensembles that you would never expect to see, such as... taking this from one of my own... harp, oboe, guitar, bass, violin and synthpad. Sometimes I don't like the restrictions put on ensembles so I put whatever I want in a piece. I love technical passages, especially improvised, especially combined smoothly with slower and less complicated passages. I like lush percussive sections, and sometimes a drum set with creative fills works great. Yeah, I'm a fan of rockin' drums. Love portamento too.

Originally Posted by Lord Skye

I don't believe that last quote by Igor. Music, which is the product of sound interpreted by human beings to be aesthetically pleasing, is inherently expression. Sound, which comprises music, is not inherently expression.

Answer this: Is music just a type of sound, or is it a different entity altogether?

Originally Posted by spherenine

Answer this: Is music just a type of sound, or is it a different entity altogether?

That will vary depending on the listener. Different ears, different levels of comprehension, different perspectives.

To me, any and all sounds can be musical, depending on the intent and energy involved in creating them.

Originally Posted by robinjessome

That will vary depending on the listener. Different ears, different levels of comprehension, different perspectives.

To me, any and all sounds can be musical, depending on the intent and energy involved in creating them.

Even drums? Damn.

Originally Posted by spherenine

Even drums? Damn.

Regretfully, yes.

To me music is a type of sound. That only makes sense, eh?

The really low notes on a piano
Combining clarinet and oboe
Combining oboe and flute
Combining clarinet and oboe
BASSOONS AND FRENCH HORNS (a combination not used often enoguh)
Bartok Pizzicato
Sharping the seventh in a minor key without fail
Reworking obscure melodies when I'm lacking inspiration.