composing strategies

My friend and I were having a debate over the best way to compose, and I was curious how other people on YC did it. Basically the two sides are this - I like to write a general idea of a couple of main parts through most of the work, and then go back in and fill in all the harmony and stuff like that. Then I'll usually adjust the main stuff a little. My friend composes like one phrase, then tweaks every part around until he thinks it's perfect, then he moves on.

What's you all's opinion on this?

-Jed

I generally construct the themes first, and perhaps sometimes I loosely sketch ideas for variations or development ideas, then I start the piece, keeping in mind all the previously constructed stuff. Generally when I start rambling and adding random things is when I get the eraser out and do a section over again. I tend to 'perfect' a piece while I'm working on it; I usually never have drafts, just a page of an outline or ideas, then the final copy.

I usually write blindly until I see something I like and then I revise. Or otherwise I have several random things

that fit together and it's a fluke.

But seriously.... don't think about what you're doing until you have something you think is cool.

That is to say, push it until it comes out. Much like childbirth, or taking a really big dump.

I tend to start with a couple motives I want to develop and come up with some major themes. Then I decide on a "big picture" form of the movement, including how I want themes to be presented at certain key points. I also come up with a few ideas concerning how the important motives can be worked into the background. Only then do I start to fill in around them. Once I'm in the process of filling in, I tend to work phrase by phrase, working on each until it's exactly as I want it, but keeping in mind the overall framework I'm working in.

It's a slow process... usually takes months to years to finish a movement. But it also results in something extremely coherent from start to finish.

I like working on one motif until i think its long enough and good enough... and then start on the second theme... i am one of those people who cant think of themes easily ... so i just play around with the existing one until another one flows out

My friend and I were having a debate over the best way to compose, and I was curious how other people on YC did it. Basically the two sides are this - I like to write a general idea of a couple of main parts through most of the work, and then go back in and fill in all the harmony and stuff like that. Then I'll usually adjust the main stuff a little. My friend composes like one phrase, then tweaks every part around until he thinks it's perfect, then he moves on.

What's you all's opinion on this?

-Jed

There are all kinds of ways to compose. One of my exercises is to play variations on a theme. I take a simple theme, and play it over and over on the piano, until it is thoroughly saturated in my mind. Then, while keeping the harmony, I change aspects of the theme. Add-subtract rhythm. Put the theme in another key. Replace phrases, or sections of phrases. Do chord sequences on a phrase, or a motif. Then finally (more difficult) - change the harmony and harmonic rhythm.

It's a good mental excersise, and I'm sure that is why Mozart and Beethoven did it.

Sometimes I will start with just one aspect of the music. A rhythm, a chord layout - even a subject of study. I wrote a piece once based on a study of Augmented and Diminished intervals.

Those are a few of the methods I use.

I come up with a main, strong element first. Be it a rhythmic cell, a strong bass line, chord progression, melody, or orchestration. Have a clear idea of where you want it to go, and (at a piano/whatever) start bashing it out. I work it out in whatever order I find it fits...harmony, voicings, counterlines. Write it down...pencil, paper (buy a good eraser) ...

It all starts with one, simple and clear concept, and is built up from there... You don't want more than one or two main elements, or they'll overpower each other... if I find this happening, I slice it up, preserving some, discarding others (from this piece - keep them for another)...

...

Seems the desire to compose can steal upon one at any time. I'm just rearranging a piece based on some musical sketches made during a work assignment in the Caribbean. The atmosphere just got me. No musical facilities were avaialble (to me), no piano, no music paper so I had to rule some but the urge was too great. It wasn't in my normal line of composition but to turn down, indeed fight, the inspiration would have been crazy.

M

Personally, I just discovered something that changed the way I'll compose for my life...

But I won't tell you what it is (I love to be mysterious haha!)

It's simple, well-known but rarely taken in consideration and...mathematical!

Listen to almost any popular song ('cause it's easier to notice than in a symphony) and ...count!

Who's gonna find it first!?

(Guess it won't take long, it's so damn simple)

Personally, I just discovered something that changed the way I'll compose for my life...

Music?

:)

A little more difficult lol!

I usually hear every thing on my head. I create a theme then the accompaniment then a countermelody (if desired) Everything depends on the syle your are composing in.

I am still mastering 10000 rules. Yet , every day I learn something new.

other than that, the best way to compose for me other than using pen and paper is to write what you have in mind as quickly as posible (only if you know how to place things down on paper correctly) sometimes I make mistakes doing so because I am still searching for my style.

once you find your style you ll make less mistakes.

What else... I don't think of my ego when I compose music, only good music"

just like in chess , " I don't believe in physchology, only in good moves"

Bobby Fischer.

ah, I always think (feel) of the following things before I write the first notes:

the performers (optional)

the enviroment of the piece will be played (optional)

my emotional and physchological experience at that second

the sound I hear at the moment. (arguments in the kitchen, tv on, a car , birds)

I'll usually hear a phrase in my head, write it down, and then get completely stuck. 'Where to go next' is always my problem. So then I have to wait for another melody or motive to spring to mind... Or sometimes I just attack Finale Notepad with as many random notes as possible and pick something out of the charred rubble.