Composers Forum is a daily web log that allows invited contemporary composers to share their thoughts and ideas on any topic that interests them--from the ethereal, like how new music gets created, music history, theory, performance, other composers, alive or dead, to the mundane, like getting works played and recorded and the joys of teaching. If you're a professional composer and would like to participate, send us an e-mail.
Record companies, artists and publicists are invited to submit CDs to be considered for review. Send to: Jerry Bowles, Editor, Sequenza 21, 340 W. 57th Street, 12B, New York, NY 10019
To be honest, I don't even remember all the stuff I once knew about theory. I don't think I ever got beyond second species counterpoint, nor do I recall exactly what that means. I haven't written a key signature in over two decades, and this will likely stay that way.
That said, I do find it of intellectual interest to learn a bit about how a piece is constructed and architected. It's kind of how I used to like to read through mathematical proofs in college. Seeing how Webern wrote all his complex canons is mentally appealing, but it would be no more than an intellectual exercise had Webern not made something expressive and beautiful in the process. Same with Feldman. His music is extremely complex from a structural perspective, yet he admitted to no significant methodology; his music appeals to me on a purely aural and emotional level. The fact that it was so amazingly architected is secondary; it's nice, but doesn't matter to me in terms of whether or not I like the music.
I do think one can learn something as a composer from studying how others developed their pieces. But it needs to be kept in perspective. It's neat how Messiaen constructed his Mode de valeurs et de intensities (I apologize if I misspelled the French). But that doesn't mean anyone can just copy the method (in this case, total serialization) and write a piece that works as music. I really like that piece, but other "totally serialized" works leave me cold. Methodology is not everything; there is no cookbook recipe for writing a compelling piece of music or developing any other form of art.
posted by David Toub
10:38 AM
