tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7298312567843426829.post4597987223927344254..comments2024-03-28T21:15:52.972-02:30Comments on → Music Composition Weblog ←: Composition Issues (7)Clark Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13153382609775397798noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7298312567843426829.post-50504721124235374612022-01-26T21:10:14.001-03:302022-01-26T21:10:14.001-03:30I like your point about not treating the listener ...I like your point about not treating the listener as an idiot versus having an audience that may not appreciate music that is too "intellectual". It reminds me of a conversation I had with another prof about compositional styles. I told him that I struggle with writing purely atonal music because I want my pieces to be accessible to my non-musician friends and he told me (I’m gonna paraphrase because I can’t remember what he said word for word) that yes, there are some atonal pieces that non-musicians may not like or understand, but other atonal pieces may remind them of a movie soundtrack or music from other forms of media, and that I’d be surprised at how much they may enjoy the energy and vibes of the piece, even if they wouldn’t understand the music from a compositional/analytical perspective. Grace Lizannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7298312567843426829.post-87581952620451179362020-11-26T12:27:49.032-03:302020-11-26T12:27:49.032-03:30I think that both sides of the table are true, but...I think that both sides of the table are true, but it all depends on context. If you’re finding that your work has good musical ideas, but that too many people find it overwhelming, you should try implementing a bit of the “less is more” approach. The opposite is true, so if you’re finding that your work is too stagnant, try to build up to having more. While it’s generally good to give new composers the advice to always use less to make more, if that advice is taken too extremely, they’ll create very boring works that most won’t want to listen to. Generally, when composers are starting out, they include way too many ideas in their work, which prevents naturally flowing thematic growth. However, when taken to an extreme, it can wreck the piece. Why? Because dichotomies like “always leave them wanting more” and “always give them what they want” should never be taken as hard-fast rules. Solid compositions exist between these dichotomies as too much of either one can ruin the listening experience. Great pieces manage to subvert expectations while also feeling satisfying when expectations are met. When a piece exists too far on one side of these dichotomies, it can alienate the listener. <br /><br />Another important factor to consider is the context of your piece. If you’re creating a piece for a festival dedicated to pushing the boundaries of modern art, what’s considered “too much” is very different from what’s considered “too much” for a concert focused on romantic era music for a basic classical music listening audience. This is why knowing your audience is incredibly important. You can use this information to live successfully between the two extremes of the dichotomies outlined in the blog post. Finding success as a composer is heavily based on how your music is received, and if you don’t create an enjoyable, or at least notable listening experience for your given audience, you’ll have a hard time finding success. <br />Andrew Gossenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7298312567843426829.post-87907526848709582552020-11-13T14:49:20.526-03:302020-11-13T14:49:20.526-03:30It’s interesting to consider these dichotomies, an...It’s interesting to consider these dichotomies, and I think “good” music happens when you balance them.<br /><br />For example, for the first row, I believe that restraint is valuable at the beginning of a piece because you can slowly introduce ideas without listeners quickly getting bored of your ideas. But when it’s time for the climax of the piece, I believe it’s great to go all out with dramatics and a full development of your ideas.<br /><br />The second row is similar to the first. I think it’s great to have the audience wanting more by gradually revealing ideas, because it keeps them interested. Then giving the full idea is so satisfying when it finally comes.<br /><br />Thirdly, it’s important to balance clarity in the presentation of ideas, but there is great value in having subtle nuances within pieces.<br /><br />Finally, balancing too much of a good thing with sticking to good ideas is important. Repeating the same idea over and over again will put an audience to sleep, but abandoning ideas in favour of constantly presenting new ones will make a piece incoherent.<br /><br />Music composition, like all things, is about balance.<br />Cassie Woolfreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15027562502302857450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7298312567843426829.post-70235131146631621192012-12-09T14:50:53.899-03:302012-12-09T14:50:53.899-03:30It seems like composition is just the act of balan...It seems like composition is just the act of balancing these dichotomies. Some of these things have come up when I was writing, and I never exactly go for either extreme. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06802021014032324367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7298312567843426829.post-87918160966241920492012-04-10T00:10:47.878-02:302012-04-10T00:10:47.878-02:30I remember reading in This is Your Brain on Music ...I remember reading in This is Your Brain on Music that great music was a careful balance between predictability and surprise. This works not only on an observational level, but also a subconscious level. I'm sure that many times, we aren't aware of why we like the music that we like, but I wouldn't be surprised if, deep down, our tastes are a reflection of our often very personal musical heritage. Our tastes have been carefully molded through our lives. I think it's great that, even having listened to music for as long as I have, I can STILL be surprised. That's what I think is the power of classical music: it is endlessly inventive and nearly always refreshing.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11236827511863552339noreply@blogger.com