1st Edition

Creative Music Composition The Young Composer's Voice

By Margaret Lucy Wilkins Copyright 2006
    304 Pages
    by Routledge

    240 Pages
    by Routledge

    Creative Music Composition is designed to be an introductory textbook for music students. "Creative composition"-composing in your own style, rather than in the style of a composer of the past-is embraced by music educators not only for composition students, but for beginning performers and music educators, and is often offered to all music students and non-music majors who wish to enhance their musical creativity.

    With 25 years of experience teaching fledgling composers, the author tackles the key ingredients that make for successful composition, including: stimulus to the musical imagination; discussion of a variety of current musical languages; analysis of many examples from contemporary scores; technical exercises; suggestions as to how to start a composition; structures; and examinations of works from particular genres. Wilkins covers several musical languages, from folk and popular to serialism; analyses various rhythmic forms; suggests approaches for composing for a variety of instruments, from traditional to electronic ones, as well as for the human voice; addresses the nuts and bolts of score preparation; and offers career advice.

    For all composition students-and for music students in general-Creative Music Composition offers a clear and concise introduction that will enable them to reach their personal goals.

    Acknowledgements. Introduction. Glossary of Terms. 1. Young Composers and a Creative Environment. 2. Concepts of the Imagination 3. Structures 4. Musical Languages 5. Technical Exercises 6. Exploring Instruments 7. Composing for Traditional Ensembles 8. Composing for Voices 9. Composing for a Monodic Instrument 10. Moving Ahead. Music Examples. Contents of the CD. Bibliography. Index

    Biography

    Margaret Lucy Wilkins is a noted composer and educator. From 1976 until her retirement in 2003, she directed the Composition program at the University of Huddersfield (UK), where 250 students a year enroll in a "free composition" course. She also is a well-known composer and conductor, with many commissions for her own work.