Techniques of the Contemporary Composer

by Ford, Jr, Jerry Lee

• ISBN13: 9780028647371
• ISBN10: 0028647378
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-08-07
• Publisher: Cengage Learning

Summary

This text is a practical guide to the compositional techniques, resources, and technologies available to composers today. Each chapter traces the development of traditional and modern elements that form the foundation of music in the late twentieth century. Among the subjects discussed are interval exploration, serialism, pitch-class sets, twelve-tone music, electronic music, algorithmic composition, and indeterminacy.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xi
1. BASICS	1	(11)
Approaches to Composition	1	(3)
Skills and Tools	4	(3)
The Profession	7	(1)
Rudiments of Orchestration and Form	8	(4)
2. THE TONAL LEGACY	12	(14)
Basic Key Concepts	12	(3)
Chromaticism	15	(2)
Expansions and Planing	17	(2)
Polytonality	19	(7)
3. NEW ROLES OF MELODY	26	(12)
Scales	26	(2)
Motives	28	(1)
Basic Melodic Concepts	29	(3)
Extended Melodic Lines	32	(2)
Accompaniments	34	(4)
4. HARMONY, COUNTERPOINT, AND HIERARCHY	38	(8)
The Overtone Series	38	(1)
Texture	39	(1)
Consonance and Dissonance	39	(1)
Interval Strengths	40	(1)
Roots	41	(1)
Progression Strengths and Chromaticism	42	(4)
5. INTERVAL EXPLORATION	46	(12)
Basic Concepts	46	(2)
Fifth and Fourth Chords	48	(2)
Second and Seventh Chords	50	(5)
Interval Combinations	55	(3)
6. SERIALISM	58	(19)
The Row	58	(3)
Category Analysis and Composition	61	(3)
Combinatoriality	64	(2)
Nonpitch Serialism	66	(5)
Pointillism	71	(3)
Klangfarbenmelodie	74	(3)
7. PITCH-CLASS SETS	77	(12)
Basic Pitch-Class Sets	77	(1)
Analyzing Sets	77	(6)
Composing with Pitch-Class Sets	83	(1)
Vectors and Z-Complements	84	(1)
Invariance and Other Variations	85	(4)
8. RHYTHM AND METER	89	(10)
Bar Lines and Pulsation	89	(1)
Freeing Metric Constraints	90	(3)
Metric Modulation	93	(1)
Proportional Notation	94	(1)
Variations and Overviews	95	(4)
9. TEXTURE AND MODULATIONS	99	(23)
Texture	99	(2)
Micropolyphony	101	(7)
Spatial Modulation	108	(5)
Timbre Modulation	113	(2)
Rhythmic and Other Modulations	115	(7)
10. MICROTONES	122	(7)
Basic Principles	122	(2)
Equal Temperament	124	(1)
Intonation and Tuning Systems	125	(1)
Microtones	125	(4)
11. PERCUSSION AND THE PREPARED PIANO	129	(7)
Instrument Types	129	(1)
Notations and Effects	130	(1)
Organization, Direction, and Drama	131	(2)
Prepared Piano	133	(3)
12. NEW TECHNIQUES AND INSTRUMENTS	136	(14)
Percussive Effects	136	(2)
Multiphonics	138	(1)
Muting Effects	139	(2)
Extensions of Traditional Techniques	141	(1)
Other Effects	142	(2)
New Instruments	144	(6)
13. NEW NOTATIONS	150	(11)
Metric and Improvisational Notation	150	(1)
Proportional and Graphic Notation	151	(2)
Cluster Notation	153	(1)
Microtone Notation	154	(1)
Percussion and Piano Notation	155	(2)
Electronic and Computer Notation	157	(1)
Notations of Nontraditional Techniques	158	(3)
14. INDETERMINACY	161	(7)
Composer Indeterminacy	162	(2)
Performer Indeterminacy	164	(1)
Mobiles and Stochastic Music	165	(2)
Uses of Indeterminacy	167	(1)
15. MUSIQUE CONCRETE	168	(9)
Sources	168	(1)
Basic Techniques	168	(1)
Recorders and Tape	169	(2)
Tape Manipulation and Effects	171	(6)
16. ELECTRONIC MUSIC	177	(15)
General Acoustic Principles	177	(1)
Electronic Sound Sources	177	(2)
Sound Manipulation	179	(2)
Mixing and Editing	181	(8)
MIDI	189	(3)
17. ALGORITHMIC COMPOSITION	192	(14)
Composition Processes and Approaches	192	(2)
General Programming Techniques	194	(1)
Mathematical Sources	195	(2)
Musical Sources	197	(6)
Interactive and Collaborative Composition	203	(3)
18. MEDIA FORMS	206	(10)
Multimedia	206	(3)
Mixed Media	209	(3)
Intermedia	212	(2)
Virtual Reality	214	(2)
19. MINIMALISM	216	(6)
Silence as Minimalism	216	(1)
Concept Music	217	(1)
Brevity Works	218	(1)
Continuities	218	(1)
Phase and Pattern Music	219	(3)
20. EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC	222	(8)
Situation and Circumstance Music	222	(1)
Soundscapes	223	(1)
Biomusic	224	(2)
Antimusic	226	(4)
21. DECATEGORIZATION	230	(9)
Eclecticism	231	(1)
Quotation	232	(1)
Sectionalization	233	(1)
Overlays	234	(2)
Integration	236	(3)
Bibliography	239	(8)
Index	247