Insights into Music Composition

<p><em>Insights into Music Composition</em> is a guide and source of inspiration for beginning students of music composition. Drawing on perspectives from a range of experienced composers, the book introduces readers to the compositional process, emphasizing how to think about creating a piece of music from beginning to end by providing not only a survey of methods but also an understanding of the overarching context for composition. The authors present student composers with the tools to develop their own voice, covering topics such as:</p><ul> <li>methods for harnessing inspiration and creativity</li> <li>how to give shape, context, and meaning to a piece of music and create moments that audiences will remember</li> <li>the value in exploring the music of other cultures and music’s interdisciplinarity</li> <li>atonal and 12-tone techniques and the roles of form and style</li> <li>the benefits and pitfalls of student-teacher relationships and the importance of building relationships with performers</li> </ul><p>Combining content from class scenarios with discussion questions, practical exercises, an annotated guide of online resources, and a glossary of terms, the text’s flexible structure allows chapters to be read through in order or drawn on by topic. Clear and accessible, <i>Insights into Music Composition</i> is an ideal resource for all students and instructors of music composition.</p> <p>1. Inspiration and Creativity / 2. Universal Principles / 3. Compositional Process: Getting Started / 4. Development of Musical Ideas / 5. Building Upon Prior Music: Plagiarism, Quotes, Techniques / 6. Technique, Notation / 7. Lyrics, Prosody, Singers <em>(Elizabeth Croy and Cheryl Hart)</em> / 8. Form, Texture, Style, and Harmonic Language / 9. Writing Atonal and 12-Tone Music / 10. Global Perspective: Cultural Influences / 11. Interdisciplinarity / 12. Listening Critically / 13. Diverse Perspectives on Composition / 14. Subjectivity, Sensitivity, and Professor-Student Mentorship / 15. Getting Successful Performances / 16. Online Resources</p>