tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post1971465929138248201..comments2024-03-27T23:06:03.736-05:00Comments on The Music Salon: Creative HistoriographyBryan Townsendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09482696991279345516noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-88834382773106196222013-12-25T07:33:12.669-06:002013-12-25T07:33:12.669-06:00Like most (or perhaps, all) composers I am very re...Like most (or perhaps, all) composers I am very reluctant to describe how I compose. There are several reasons for this:<br /><br />--I am reluctant to describe in concrete terms what is largely an intuitive process (the "centipedal question" phenomenon)<br />--how I work is different with every piece<br />--how I work is kind of a cobbled-together melange of different procedures<br />--it almost comes down to, as a friend of mine said, "just put down the notes that sound good"<br />--I would rather spend time composing a piece than talking about how I composeBryan Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09482696991279345516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-51068144273902135282013-12-25T01:08:46.495-06:002013-12-25T01:08:46.495-06:00But anyways, what is your approach (have you made ...But anyways, what is your approach (have you made any post about it)?Rickardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08084578675339015204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-38527145192736781462013-12-24T17:36:00.444-06:002013-12-24T17:36:00.444-06:00Oh yes, Nathan is my composition teacher (although...Oh yes, Nathan is my composition teacher (although I haven't had an official lesson yet, it's coming up soon though, but he has given me lots of tips and feedback so far). Rickardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08084578675339015204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-57002257206880867702013-12-24T16:35:50.534-06:002013-12-24T16:35:50.534-06:00I've always had the suspicion that composers o...I've always had the suspicion that composers only listen to other composers hoping to steal a good idea! I'm certainly hoping to learn something from Haydn--but I really enjoy his music too, of course.<br /><br />I don't use improvisation the way that you and probably Nathan do. I just take a different approach. But if it works for you then that is fantastic.Bryan Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09482696991279345516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827040061563065922.post-81436315462038803642013-12-24T14:08:12.217-06:002013-12-24T14:08:12.217-06:00Well, a good point that I think you are trying to ...Well, a good point that I think you are trying to show here is that theory is far from enough. In fact you've already mentioned several times that Haydn did alot of experimentation (rather than relying on theory books). I think a more intiutive approach with improvisation, following your ear and experimentation is the best approach to composition. You get interesting unexpected results (like Haydn did for instance). If one has an overanalytic theoretical approach it seems to give more boring conventional results. Not saying one should be like John Cage and throw every possible convention away but being a bit on the experimental side doesn't hurt. I for instance use a modal rather than tonal approach, try to use unconventional instrument combinations and unusual harmonies (kinda a thing that comes by default when using a modal approach and improvising). But then again I'm just a beginner and don't have much to show yet.Rickardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08084578675339015204noreply@blogger.com