Search the Community

Hey guys :D I am new here and I have a question! What is the fastest way to write music? Do you write it with your hand and then copy it on the computer? Or do you instantly write it on a special programme on the computer? Or do you use tablets? I am kind of new here and I was wondering wether you could help me. (at the moment I use Finale, but it takes so long to enter note by note with your mouse) Any kind of help is appreciated! Thank you :D

Hello, I'm a beginning music composition student at Washington State University, and there's a question that has been increasingly interesting me: What defines a "good" piece? I've been fascinated with theory, partly because I'm interested in trying to determine this answer, but so far it has generally eluded me. Why, for example, are Bartok's string quartets valued over Schubert's? Or why is Rite of Spring preferred over Firebird? I'm currently trying to write a piece for clarinet, but I'm kind of stuck because I can't decide when something I write is "good" or not. Sometimes there are notions that some pieces narrowly miss greatness because they don't develop their ideas enough, but what determines if an idea has been adequately developed? What are the correct ways to "develop" an idea? When are you developing an idea, and when are you actually introducing a new idea? I feel like these are some basic elements of composition theory, but I don't have a very firm grasp of them. I'd love to hear any of your thoughts on the matter. Thanks!

General Information Bachelor of Music undergraduates from any Australian tertiary institution are invited to enter the inaugural Duo Entendre Composition Competition. Applicants will be required to submit a composition of up to 5 minutes duration for the instrumentation of horn and piano*. The work can be of any style providing that the score is legibly notated with computer software. Electronics and prepared piano can be utilised providing clear instructions are given. *Stuart & Sons 102 key Concert Grand - see Stuart and Sons website for specifications. Prize The winning composer will receive a $1000 prize. A concert program including the winning composition will be devised from the entered works. This free concert will take place on Sunday October 5, 2014 at 3pm in the Harold Lobb Concert Hall, Newcastle Conservatorium. The winner will be announced at this concert. Full details and entry form available from our website: http://www.duoentendre.com/competition.html

Where do you think does a personal style come from? What are the important factors that determine the emergence of an original personal style? Does it happen by itself, or does one consciously nurture and develop a personal style? Ideally speaking, would it be an unconscious or a conscious process/action? What about in practice?

Two days ago I participated in a Photo Marathon in which we had 12 hours, 12 themes, and had to take 12 photos. It was a pretty exciting challenge. So the idea occurred to me that we might organize a "Composition Marathon" on YC. To do it, we would have to adapt the idea. So I am starting this thread whereby we can collectively brainstorm to refine the idea and eventually hold the marathon. Here are my own suggestions for the adaptation of the photo marathon idea to a "composition marathon". These ideas are suggested as a starting point. Feel free to suggest your improvements or modifications. 1) 12 hours: Since this will be an online event with a global audience of composers, I suggest that we change this to 24 hours in order to take into account the time differences between countries (which could mean that if we made it only 12 hours, several countries' composer's might happen to be asleep during most of those hours). We can agree on the starting time and announce it several days before, doing a countdown to the day and hour (with no details of "themes" announced yet) while asking everyone to register. 2) 12 themes: These could be adapted to mean restrictions on the pieces to be composed. These "restrictions" could mean any of the following (feel free to add your suggestions): a) Limited number of bars to compose in. We could, for example, specify 10-bar miniatures as one of the "themes", as Christian Perrotta did in a successful challenge some time ago. We could go even shorter and ask for 5-bar miniatures, for another of the "themes". b) Related to the above, we can specify the form of the pieces. Possible forms I would suggest would be: free form, Soliloquy, or sententia (Latin for sentence, a form I have originated and composed several sets of pieces in). c) We can supply different musical themes to compose pieces on. d) We can specify the key signatures of the pieces to be composed. e) We can specify the time signatures of the pieces to be composed. f) We can specify the instruments for which to compose pieces. 3) 12 photos/pieces: As regards the number (12) of themes or restrictions, we could once again adapt this to composition in one of the following ways: a) 12 variations on one theme b) 12 sententiae c) 12 soliloquies d) Any of the above restrictions (see No. 2, a-f) x 12 (i. e. 12 x 5-bar minatures, or 12 5-bar miniatures for different instruments, 12 pieces in 12 different provided themes, 12 sententiae/soliloquies/etc. for 12 different instruments, 12 5-bar miniatures in 12 different key signatures, 12 variations on a theme for 12 different instruments, etc). Waiting to hear your input and ideas on how this composition marathon can best be organized and held. It could become a yearly event and would serve to generate increased interest in composition, excitement for young and beginning composers, and challenge and motivate all of us to improve as composers.

Here are some that I would like to share to start this thread: 1. "Shame on the blind men who took Beethoven for a deaf man!" Wilhelm von Lenz (1809 - 83) 2. "They want me to compose in a different way; I could, but I must not." Anton Bruckner (1824-96) 3. "This boy will cause us all to be forgotten." German composer Johann Adolf Hasse (1699-1783), about the 15-year old Mozart. My comments: Concerning the third quotation: What a prophetic thing to say! Concerning the second: Genius recognizes itself! Concerning the first: Talk about metaphoric blindness and deafness!

Why do we avoid the augmented second between 6 and 7 in harmonic minor in voice leading? I always get called on this in my compositions, but I use that interval on purpose. It sounds so expressive and pulls so strongly to tonic, why avoid it? It's not like singers can't sing it now. Contemporary singers should find an augmented second very easy to sing. It isn't hard on any instrument. So why? Why do we avoid the augmented second in voice leading?

With some insight into your compositional process if possible.

The Geneva International Music Competition (Concours de Genève) is organizing once again this year a Composition Prize : - Members of the Jury : Ivan Fedele (Chairman), Toshio Hosokawa, Magnus Lindberg, Philipope Manoury, Isabel Mundry - Subject of the Competition : work for flute solo and small ensemble of five instruments - Registration until March 31st 2013 For more information (rules, registration, etc...) check out : https://www.concoursgeneve.ch/index.php/en/composition-prize/2013/presentation.html

Hi All, I have trouble with writing larger/longer pieces of music. I can come up with melodies or "riffs", but I'm not sure how to make a piece "coherent" and not simply a string of ideas, or a "song", or ABA form. To help me understand, I would like to start with a very simple and short example, prelude in C by Bach, BWv924 (see attached). Why is this piece "coherent"? What is the structure or form of this piece? Thanks for any help IMSLP222728-PMLP180599-Bach_Prelude_BWV924_Cmaj.pdf

How are the two related? Does one's personal philosophy affect one's composing? Does it affect the content and the form of the music one composes? How? In more general terms, what is the relationship of music and philosophy? Is the philosophy of the time reflected in the music of a particular epoch? And does the music of a particular time in history affect the philosophical trends of that period? How? Any thoughts and/or examples?

2012-13 New-Music Consortium International Call for Scores Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/USFNewMusicConsortium. Application Deadline: 2013-01-15 The New-Music Consortium, University of South Florida School of Music’s student-run contemporary music organization, is pleased to announce its first ever New-Music Consortium International Call for Scores. Two works will be selected, with one winner each in the categories of acoustic and electronic composition. Selected compositions will be presented at concerts during the NMC’s Spring New-Music Concert, taking place on April 6, 2013. Selected composers will not receive a cash award and will be expected to provide professional performance materials by March 1st. Although a stipend for travel and lodging will not be provided, the winning composers are encouraged (but not required) to attend the performances. If the composers choose to attend the concert, the NMC will assist with travel arrangements to and from the airport in Tampa and provide lodging discounts through USF where possible. Composers of all nationalities under the age of 35 are encouraged to apply. There is no entry fee, and works may have been previously performed (further stipulations below). Composers who have graduated from the University of South Florida after the year 2007 are not eligible to apply. A panel consisting of members of the New-Music Consortium will evaluate the pieces and choose the winning entries. USF Composition Professor Baljinder Sekhon will facilitate the competition. All applications must be completed and received by January 15, 2013. The winning entries will be announced by February 15, 2013. RULES AND GUIDELINES Individuals may submit one work to each category. ACOUSTIC: The submitted work should be between 5-15 minutes in duration. The number of performers must be between 3-9 players. The instrumentation may be a subset of the following instruments. Works that require a conductor are acceptable. (2) Flutes/Piccolos Oboe/English Horn (2) Clarinets (Bb, Eb, or Bass Clarinet) Bassoon/Contrabassoon (2) Saxes (Alto, Tenor, and Bari) Horn (2) Trumpets (2) Trombones Bass Trombone Tuba (2) Percussion Piano (2) Violins Viola Cello Double Bass ELECTRONIC: The submitted work should be between 5-15 minutes in duration. Submissions of electronic works may be composed for audio playback up to a 5.1 speaker array. Submissions may be composed for any combination of audio playback, live electronics, and up to 4 performers (instrumentation should be selected from the list under ACOUSTIC guidelines). If necessary, a score, graphic representation, or other sufficient performance instructions must be included in the submission. OTHER: ~Works of any style, aesthetic, and notation will be accepted. ~The work must not exceed fifteen minutes in duration. ~The work may also call for an “unusual” (e.g. folk, traditional, rare, Partch) instrument. In such a case, the composer must provide both the performer and the unusual instrument for all rehearsals and the performance of the piece. NMC cannot assume any expenses for this performer or instrument (e.g. travel, accommodation, per diem, insurance). ~Only one entry per composer for each category (acoustic/electronic) will be accepted. ~A jointly written work will be considered a single entry. ~Submissions may have been performed previously, but pieces that have been played and/or recorded by a professional ensemble should not be submitted. ~No information that indicates or suggests the name or affiliation of the composer can appear anywhere on the entry work score or mp3. SUBMISSION PROCESS The submission process is entirely online. Please follow the directions below to ensure that your application is successfully received. ACOUSTIC: 1) Prepare an anonymous PDF score (TITLE.pdf) and an anonymous MP3 recording (TITLE.mp3) of your work. All indications of the composer’s identity, affiliation, or performing ensemble should be removed. 2) Include a form with the composer’s name, contact information, and one paragraph biography. (Biographies will be used when announcing the winning composer.) 3) Please send the above items as attachments to NMCSubmissions@gmail.com. 4) Please make the subject of your email “Last Name, First Name - Title of Piece.” It is imperative that the total size of these attachments be no larger than 20 MB. 5) Submissions will be handled by a third party. For questions and information, please write to: BSekhon@usf.edu. ELECTRONIC: 1) Prepare an anonymous PDF score (TITLE.pdf) if applicable, and an anonymous mp3 (TITLE.mp3) of your work. All indications of the composer’s identity, affiliation, or performing ensemble should be removed. 2) Include a form with the composer’s name, contact information, and one paragraph biography. (Biographies will be used when announcing the winning composer.) 3) Also include a tech sheet listing all hardware and software required, as well as a routing diagram. 4) Please send the above items as attachments to NMCSubmissions@gmail.com. 5) Please make the subject of your email “Last Name, First Name - Title of Piece.” It is imperative that the total size of these attachments be no larger than 20 MB. 6) Submissions will be handled by a third party. For questions and information, please write to: BSekhon@usf.edu. PUBLISHED DATE: 14 Dec 2012

Hello! I'm interested in beginning to compose, especially in modern styles (a la Ligeti). However, my music theory knowledge is minimal... I can read notes and that's about it. (Except sometimes when a note has more than a couple of ledger lines :veryunsure:) Anyway, as I said, I'm into contemporary music... Ligeti, Bartok, and Yun Isang are among my favorite composers. I love listening to their music, but I usually don't get a whole lot out of it since I don't understand the concepts being demonstrated. That being said, can anyone recommend to me a good place to start (e.g. textbook, website) where I could learn music theory? Everything that I've found just explains reading music and then stops. Thanks! P.S. I'm new here... sorry if I'm putting this in the wrong spot.

Hi, Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro for iPad will soon be available at the iTunes App Store. We are looking for teachers and musicians interested in reviewing the app and give us some feedback (we only get 50 redeems codes for this purpose). http://mdecks.com/mapharmony.html Here are three tutorials so you can see how the app works. Tutorial I Tutorial II Tutorial III It is going to be part of a seven workbook collection. The volumes in the Mapping Tonal Harmony collection have been envisioned as auxiliary material in the study of Tonal Harmony. The main objective of these books is to provide the student, teachers, composers and/or songwriters with a tool that will aid them in hearing, analyzing, foreseeing and composing harmonic progressions without struggle, in all keys alike. Since I know all you guys are interested in topics like this, I thought was a good idea to share this new concept and see what you might think. If you'd like to be part of the reviewer's list please let us know. Thanks.

link del post en taringa: http://www.taringa.n...237/Chopin.html Federico Chopin http://2.bp.blogspot...1600/Chopin.png Uno de los mejores compositores lejos... Nadie puede compararse en tecnica compositiva, pero sobre todo en esa cosa muy dificil de explicar, esa pasion en cada compás. Hola, hace varios meses vengo trabajando en un projecto que empeze yo mismo, yo tengo 15 años, y quiero ser compositor. Toco el piano, y estoy aprendiendo música, para a los 18 ir a Polonia a estudiar composicion en el conservatorio. Yo tambien compongo , pero no puedo decir que soy chopin, todavia me falta aprender bastante. Para la poca gente que le interesa la música de este genio, aqui les dejo una ayuda para componer en su estilo. Por ultimo una pequeña reflexión personal: Es muy facil realizar un cálculo matemático, pero crear un buen compás de música es el mayor desafio que puede existir. Estilo musical de Chopin 1) El secreto de la composición es siempre variar las ideas y usar toda variante hasta que quede la frase deseada. Por ejemplo si estamos “trabados” en alguna frase y no sabemos como seguir podemos, tomar un papel y escribir distintas maneras para seguir, todas diferentes, y elegir la que mejor quede, este modo se llama descarte. 2) Se pueden crear todos los recursos compositivos imaginables. Esto quiere decir que no siempre la musica debe ser todo el tiempo “igual” , por ejemplo, en la clave de sol, la melodia, y en la clave de fa, primero la nota del bajo y luego el acorde. Sino que hay millones de formas infinitas de escribir la musica, para que no sea tediosa, un ejemplo muy claro seria el siguiente: Rondo op 1 , Frederic Chopin: http://a8.sphotos.ak...1_5082526_n.jpg En los primeros cuatro compases, marcados en rojo , hay una forma de expresar la melodia totalmente distinta a la parte azul. En la roja se muestra por octavas, Y en la azul se muestra como anteriormente dije, melodia y bajo/acorde. Luego esto CAMBIARÁ para que no sea tan tedioso escuchar toda la pieza igual: http://a1.sphotos.ak...6_6782487_n.jpg La parte azul se mantiene hasta que en un momento vuelve a la forma roja, parecida a la del comienzo pero una Melodia distinta. Es cuando entonces llega la parte verde. Cambia totalmente la forma de la melodia y el bajo, se puede apreciar que es totalmente distinta a las dos anteriores. Eso es lo que Chopin buscaba, que la pieza no sea siempre igual o tediosa y para esto hay un monton mas de recursos, porque como se puede apreciar sigue estando en el mismo tono. Luego si cambiara de tono, pero estando en el mismo hay muchos recursos que uno puede INVENTAR, para seguir la obra. 3) El fraseo y la “cantabilidad” son los elementos principales y característicos en la música de Chopin. Quiere decir que la melodía debe poder ser cantada. Otro de los aspectos fundamentales es el empleo de un rubato muy característico de este compositor: el rubato reservado para la melodía; una melodía entendida como foco de atención, que se desarrolla con independencia respecto al acompañamiento. 4) En Chopin es particular el salto de séptima. Hacia arriba o abajo. Pero nunca resuelve este en la tónica sino que genera una frase. Este salto puede ser de 7 pero de dos octavas como en el último ejemplo y tambien de novena, etc. http://a5.sphotos.ak...0_1862014_n.jpg Nocturno en sol menor. Fa mayor resuelve en sib. http://a1.sphotos.ak...2_1654454_n.jpg http://a7.sphotos.ak...3_7538395_n.jpg 5) También los cromatismos. Antes de regresar a la tónica en el quinto grado en este ejemplo: http://a7.sphotos.ak...8_4107254_n.jpg Y en el juego en una nota con otras cercanas. http://a2.sphotos.ak...1_1772111_n.jpg 6) También repite notas rápidamente para acentuar. Esto es característico en su estilo. http://a6.sphotos.ak...3_4717794_n.jpg 7) A veces cuando esta en un quinto grado puede repetir la frase dos veces. Una terminando en un tono mayor y seguido de eso una terminando en un tono menor. 8) Chopin siempre agrega notas de paso para que el sonido no quede tan cuadrado. Es muy importante para la melodia el uso de notas de paso http://a7.sphotos.ak...4_1190061_n.jpg 9) El estilo de Chopin presenta muchas células de este tipo, Son muy caracteristicas del folclora polaco, de la mazurka etc: http://a5.sphotos.ak...7_4299137_n.jpg 10) Chopin generalmente no va demasiado grave en la armonía. No mas de 2 octavas abajo del do central pero hay momentos en que deja pasar esto. Tambien logre observar que el quinto grado es el unico que deja el bajo ir mas grave que al tonica, los demas grados ubica su bajo mas arriba que el de la tonica. 11)Se observa además sobre el cromatismo la misma nota pulsada varias veces comenzando desde la octava. Esto se llama nota pedal o al revés desde arriba. También no tiene que ser siempre cromatismo pueden ser notas de la escalas etc. http://a6.sphotos.ak...8_7018497_n.jpg 12) El Mazur danza típica del sureste, (danza en tres tiempos (3/4) con acentos en el la melodia en el segundo y el tercer tiempo) se caracteriza por su paso deslizado, con ritmo punteado, Esta manera de componer la encontramos en sus valses, canciones, el Concierto en fa menor, la Fantasía núm. 13 y en sus 58 mazurcas. 13) Acorde disminuido muy característico en muchas composiciones de Chopin. Les da su toque armónico. Resuelve en el tono mayor del mismo acorde. http://a4.sphotos.ak...9_1994312_n.jpg 14) Las estructuras de los conciertos de chopin siguieron el ejemplo de los conciertos en el estilo de Jan Ladislav Dussek y Johann Nepomuk Hummel, con la que estaba familiarizado. Él estaba interesado en el diálogo de Beethoven entre los instrumentos, la orquesta y el solista, en un entrelazamiento de voces como hacía weber . Una importancia destacada es la visualización de las habilidades expresivas y técnicas del solista en los conciertos de Chopin. El primer movimiento del Concierto en Mi menor tiene tres temas, que son introducidos por la orquesta. El piano juega con el primer tema (compas 139), seguido por el segundo tema lírico (compas 155), acompañado por el motivo principal del primer tema en contrapunto del bajo. 15) Chopin añade muchas notas de paso y cromatismos cuando tiene que desarrollar un tema como por ej en el nocturno op 9 no 1. http://a7.sphotos.ak...0_3198958_n.jpg 16) Así como en las composiciones se pueden usar notas de paso también se pueden usar acordes de paso. Se puede sostener una misma nota con la mano derecha y cambiar de acordes con la izq., pasar por distintos y viceversa, con la nota suspendida en la izq. También pueden ser dos notas o más suspendidas. 17) Se pueden hacer escalas de más de una nota a la vez, por ej: de triadas o de dos notas a la vez.. 18) Usar distintos bajos con el mismo acorde. O el mismo bajo con distinto acordes, por ejemplo el bajo sol, con el acorde sol menor o do menor. Es un recurso si no hay espacio en el compás o puede usarse en toda la obra. 19) Si se quieren escribir acordes cromáticos se pueden usar inversiones de otros que queden cercanas al acorde de donde se está. 20) A veces se puede transportar a una misma frase a otro tono, esto sería como repetirla pero un poco mas aguda. Por ej: si se esta en do menor se puede tocar la misma frase en fa menor luego. Mirar rondo op 1. 21) Todo se puede hacer en una composición lo mas importante es recordar que aunque se piense que algo es absurdo se puede convertir en algo muy bello si lo armamos adecuadamente. 22) Finalizar una idea con esta célula da una sensación de acabada. Este acabado se ve en muchas obras de bach, y además de en el rondo op 1 de Chopin. http://a1.sphotos.ak...31_445172_n.jpg 23) También se pueden usar acordes arpegiados rápido sin el bajo para no ser tan repetitivo. 24) En Chopin hay algo de contrapunto escondido en las partes rápidas con las dos voces interiores. A veces las voces exteriores hacen movimiento contrario, una escala va hacia arriba y la otra hacia abajo. 25)Para el comienzo de la obra por ej si es anacrúsico se puede tocar una nota y sostenerla tocar el bajo y que la nota sigua sonando como en el principio de la mazurca op 6 no 1 de Chopin. 26)A veces para pasar de un tema a un tema b Chopin lo hace mediante una nota de paso cromática. Por eso cuando termina el tema a deja la última nota a distancia de un tono de la nota principal del tema b para pasar mediante una nota cromática. Mirar mazurca op 6 no 2. 27) Cromatismo abierto: Muy característico en el romanticismo y en la música de Chopin. http://a5.sphotos.ak...3_5752698_n.jpg No tiene que ser si o si a la octava sino que puede ser de otros intervalos. Vals op 64 no 1. 28)Los estudios de Chopin son ricos en armonía y se puede usar para aprender. Observar estudio op 10 no 11. 29) Es muy característico del romanticismo tocar un acorde de nuevo y cambiar algunas notas del acorde cromáticamente o simple mente moviendolas para dar una sensación de aumentación o otras. Se puede además empezar de uno aumentado a uno de reposo como en el principio de la balada no 3. http://a2.sphotos.ak...35_536528_n.jpg 30) También además de cambiar algunas notas otro recurso sería mover la armonia cromáticamente. Vals op 34 no 1. http://a4.sphotos.ak...6_8176211_n.jpg 31) Estos saltos son muy característicos en Chopin cuando quiere darle fuerza: http://a3.sphotos.ak...9_5053670_n.jpg 32) Cadencia con progresión: Muy característica en Chopin. http://a4.sphotos.ak...3_6813908_n.jpg 33) Cromatismo en el bajo: las demas notas quedan iguales. http://a1.sphotos.ak...4_1518347_n.jpg 34) Balada no 3. http://a3.sphotos.ak...47_521089_n.jpg Progresión muy característica en muchas composiciones de Chopin. Apoyaturas en el bajo si y re, progresión VI – I 35) El cantabile de Chopin demuestra sus apoyaturas cromáticas que le dan su estilo melódico. 36) Como recurso melódico se puede emplear lo siguiente con notas del acorde en la voz interna y cromatismos en la voz superior: Las notas del acorde están marcadas. http://a6.sphotos.ak...9_1295904_n.jpg 37) En esta cadencia Chopin abre el acorde de dominante y luego resuelve distinto porque hace sonar el acorde de tónica más suave. Estos arpegios son característicos de él. http://a5.sphotos.ak...2_3843680_n.jpg 38)Un recurso que Chopin utiliza al terminar una obra es repetir muchas veces el mismo compás con el mismo bajo. Esto da una sensación como que el sonido se va alejando, por eso esta indicado perdendosi y va cada vez más suave. Mazurka op 24 no 3. http://a3.sphotos.ak...3_5625677_n.jpg 39)Chopin a veces utiliza notas muy cercanas como nota pedal en las mazurcas. http://a3.sphotos.ak...8_4812642_n.jpg 40)Sus mazurcas se caracterizan por tener una pequeña sección armonica-cromática, en algunos compases. http://a5.sphotos.ak...9_3749898_n.jpg 41) Aca un ejemplo de cómo usa muchas veces el mismo acorde en el bajo, pero con notas distintas en la voz superior. Esto no lo hace durar mucho, sino seria muy monótono. http://a4.sphotos.ak...0_3212709_n.jpg 42) Un recurso para que nuestra composición quede bien sería agregar una escala rápida en algun momento, ya que las partes rápidas vuelven a llamar la atención del que escucha.

I mean to what extent do you think there is a one-to-one correspondence between you as a person and your compositions? Thus, if you are a boring person, then your pieces would be boring. If you are immature and undeveloped as a person, then your pieces would be immature and undeveloped. And if you are a person who's exciting and bubbling with ideas, then your pieces would be exciting and bubbling with ideas. Do you think there is such a close (near one-to-one) correspondence between how one is as a person and how one's compositions sound, between how one is perceived as a person and how one's compositions are perceived by an audience? Or do you think, on the other hand, that there is no such close correspondence? That a composer of exciting pieces bubbling with novel ideas might well prove to be living a dull life and be a dull person in a personal encounter with them? That a socially or psychologically immature person could well produce mature masterpieces? Rephrased in another way, do you think one's life and experience are reflected in one's music? What is the raw material of music? Is it one's life and one's experiences or is it purely musical ideas on the abstract level that might not have anything to do with one's life and oneself as a person? An example of the former (one's life and experiences being the raw material of music) that comes to my mind is Beethoven. An example of the latter (music not being related to one's life but being purely mental musical ideas on the abstract level) that comes to my mind is, roughly speaking, all music before Beethoven, especially Bach. Rephrased in still another way, do you think you can write greater music than your greatness as a person? Or write music that is inferior to you as a person? Or do you feel that your music's greatness is necessarily a reflection of your greatness as a person and cannot be either greater or lesser than it? I think the answers to this question are of paramount importance because it is depending on them that we will decide whether composition constitutes truly an action - in the sense of having a clear and distinct subject and object - or whether its nature transcends the clear division into subject and object. If the latter be the case, then composition would be more than a simple action or activity, but something in which the division between subject and object is blurred and an activity in which the person as a subject may be changed and transformed in the very act of composition.

i dont know what else i can add to my song any ideas on what i can i add to make it look better, i have no knowledge of music whatsover, i compose with my heart not knowledge :nod: http://soundcloud.com/vnhrmth/sad-and-mysterious violin.mp3

Hi there, glad I finally found a forum that has soundtrack music genre composers. I've always had problems mixing and mastering as I do not really understand EQ and compression (I believe these are used to master a track). Anyways, I will start off with the easy question. I'm using Fruity Loops Studio for my compositions and my main plugins are Stormdrum, Nexus and Miroslav Philharmonik. My first question is with regards to a track I just finished. I'm hoping it can be a reference for future work in terms of mixing/mastering. In the track, I use piano, drums, cello, violin, cello stacc and choir. What I want to know is which is suppose to be louder and lower, for instance, should the cello be lower in volume and violin louder, etc. Is there like a general formula for it? I know there is one for beat making as that's all I'm able to find on youtube. My second question is with mastering. I know it is a very subjective thing, but since I don't know the basics, is there any good articles or material that are easy to read for someone without knowledge on music theory? Any advice would be appreciated.

Is Formal Training In Composition Necessary At One Point Or Can One Find One's Way Just Through Practice Composing And Studying Pieces? What do you think? I have scarcely gotten any training and compose as an amateur. I am wondering how far I can go like this. Will I find my way to composing even symphonies, or would that necessitate some formal training? I know that Elgar became a composer through self-study. Would training generate symphonic ideas where none occurred before, or improve one's original ideas?

How often do you revise a piece after you think you have completed it? How thoroughly do you revise it? What do you think does a composer's frequency of revision of pieces say about them? What do you think does the fact of needing to revise a piece say about it? Do you think that it is the mark of a great piece that it needs to be constantly revised - or that of a lesser one? I think the need to revise a piece might mean that one is developing as a composer, that the previous degree of care and consideration taken in judging a piece complete is no longer definitive or sufficient. It might also mean a piece is problematic, or that one was too quick to judge it complete. Alternatively, it might mean that the piece was subtle, seminal and/or full of possibilities and unseen potential that one failed to see or appreciate, let alone fully develop, at the time that the decision/judgement of completeness was taken.

What is its role for you as a composer? Do you disregard it, listen to it and find it beneficial, or do you even depend on it to guide you in what to compose and how to compose?

Hey Everyone, This has been a long time in the woodwork, but recently I discovered that out of everything (and there were a lot of possibilities), I really want to become a film composer. I was wondering if anyone has any tips/advice on how to go about it. I'm in a pretty small country (New Zealand), and I'm not so sure how helpful a three-year course would be in really equipping me for this (time, money, and where I am in the world - we travel a lot - are also considerations), and whether I'd actually get a job at the end of it. So I would really appreciate your insights and experience on this. So fire away! :) Cheers, and thank you very much in advance! KahliaSkye

I wonder why each composer feels compelled to compose, and would like to hear each of your reasons for composing. For me it might be an inner need springing from my subconscious, a need to probably order and harmonize experience. And composition for me has never been an intentional act or deliberate act. I have early on felt compelled to respond in my own music to the music I heard. But presently, it is more an inner inspiration that leads me to compose. And this inspiration is mostly something whose existence is not in my hands. It might happen that I am no longer inspired after today. But still, my present period of compositional activity (in the past 6 months) coincided with getting a new software for composition (Sibelius 6) whereupon I experienced an increase in compositional activity and output, composing 37 short pieces in that 6-month period. So, from this experience of mine I can also infer that composition can be a response to external stimulation (in my case a new software program). For others (and for me also) it might be other types of stimulation that lead to compositional activity. What might these other types of stimulation be? I think new experiences, like meeting new people, doing new things could be examples of such stimulation. For example, after attending a religious conference, I wrote a short song as a march for the group. Waiting to hear your reasons for composing.

Anyone know any good books on composition? Especially regarding form, harmony, and counterpoint. Right now I'm reading "the Study of Counterpoint from Johann Joseph Fux's Gradus Ad Parnassum", so anything similar to that anyone would recommend?