How do I expand/start a composition?!
Question: How do I expand/start a composition!?
I've sort of asked this question before, however I did not get any good answers, so I'll try again!. I do know music theory, enough to know how to put it together, and what the different chords are and so forth!. So the answer cannot be "learn chords, scales, etc!."
How do I really come up with an idea, especially when there's a deadline, and you cannot rely on spontaneous musical combustion!? I have the first part of a piano piece, but I am at a complete loss for how to continue composing!. I also have to compose a choral piece!. I would like to do a setting of the choral ordinary of the Mass, the Magnificat, Da pacem Domini, or something similar, but I have no idea what to do to actually come up with an idea, without just having it naturally come to me, because that could take a long time!. Normally, when I try to force it, I get extremely depressed, but I have no other choice, because of a deadline!. Most of the things I can improvise on the piano, sound unbearably stupid (except for what I already have-that I mentioned)!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
How do I really come up with an idea, especially when there's a deadline, and you cannot rely on spontaneous musical combustion!? I have the first part of a piano piece, but I am at a complete loss for how to continue composing!. I also have to compose a choral piece!. I would like to do a setting of the choral ordinary of the Mass, the Magnificat, Da pacem Domini, or something similar, but I have no idea what to do to actually come up with an idea, without just having it naturally come to me, because that could take a long time!. Normally, when I try to force it, I get extremely depressed, but I have no other choice, because of a deadline!. Most of the things I can improvise on the piano, sound unbearably stupid (except for what I already have-that I mentioned)!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
Answers:
You say you already started on a piece!?
Try writing an inversion, retrograde, or retrograde inversion on that theme, and use that as the second theme!.
Or write a possible countermelody for that theme!. You could use that countermelody not only for a countermelody, but also for a ritornello or a second theme!.
Or try taking a fragment from that theme and see what you can do with that fragment!. Maybe make a sequence out of it!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
Try writing an inversion, retrograde, or retrograde inversion on that theme, and use that as the second theme!.
Or write a possible countermelody for that theme!. You could use that countermelody not only for a countermelody, but also for a ritornello or a second theme!.
Or try taking a fragment from that theme and see what you can do with that fragment!. Maybe make a sequence out of it!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
You have the first part - which is what!? the exposition in a sonata form!? or you mean the whole 1st movement in a cycle form!? What is it exactly that you're missing - an idea on how to develop a theme you already have, or the actual theme!?
A current "trend" in contemporary music is the serialism reborn!.!.!. Yeah, I don't like it either!.!.!. So, if you need a theme, you just take your girlfriend's name/phone number and put it on notes, rhythm it up and there's your theme!.
On expanding the theme: esp for choral liturgical works, use baroque procedures - make it a fugue for instance (all you need is to come up with a second idea for the episodes, and the rest is math)!. For the piano piece, how about writing variations on the theme you have!? You could write a set of variations based on famous composers' style, and name the variations Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, Schoenberg, and so on!. Again, you don't need much "inspiration" for this, this is more of a composing technical exercise!.!.!.
best luck Www@Enter-QA@Com
A current "trend" in contemporary music is the serialism reborn!.!.!. Yeah, I don't like it either!.!.!. So, if you need a theme, you just take your girlfriend's name/phone number and put it on notes, rhythm it up and there's your theme!.
On expanding the theme: esp for choral liturgical works, use baroque procedures - make it a fugue for instance (all you need is to come up with a second idea for the episodes, and the rest is math)!. For the piano piece, how about writing variations on the theme you have!? You could write a set of variations based on famous composers' style, and name the variations Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, Schoenberg, and so on!. Again, you don't need much "inspiration" for this, this is more of a composing technical exercise!.!.!.
best luck Www@Enter-QA@Com
just an idea
the magnificat can serve as an example;
first think of the rhythm and stress mag/NI---fi-cat
now think of an underlying progression, nothing fancy
take some of the harmony notes and place over the words, smooth out this melodic fragment by means of passing notes , decoration etc
use this fragment as your opening statement, then think of its musical answer
concentrate on some of the important words and phrase and see if they suggest rhythmic and or melodic devices
Try sketching out on manuscript BEFORE approaching the pianoWww@Enter-QA@Com
the magnificat can serve as an example;
first think of the rhythm and stress mag/NI---fi-cat
now think of an underlying progression, nothing fancy
take some of the harmony notes and place over the words, smooth out this melodic fragment by means of passing notes , decoration etc
use this fragment as your opening statement, then think of its musical answer
concentrate on some of the important words and phrase and see if they suggest rhythmic and or melodic devices
Try sketching out on manuscript BEFORE approaching the pianoWww@Enter-QA@Com