Composing with constraints : 100 practical exercises in music composition / Jorge Variego.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Variego, Jorge, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Composition (Music)--Instruction and study.

Composition (Music).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (145 pages)

Place of Publication:

New York, New York : Oxford University Press, [2021]

Summary:

Composing with Constraints provides an innovative approach to the instruction of the craft of music composition based on tailored exercises to help students develop their creativity. The 100 exercises that are included contain a unique set of guidelines and constraints intended to place the student in a specific compositional framework. By using the methodologies in this book, students will be able to create their own outlines for their compositions, making intelligent and educated compositional choices that balance reasoning with intuition.

Contents:

cover

Composing with Constraints

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

How to Use the Book

Recommendations for the Instructor

1 Melody (Exercises 1-​20)

Preliminary Notes

Exercises

Exercise 1: Focal Point

Exercise 2: Using a Scale

Exercise 3: Using a Scale and a Subset

Exercise 4: Using a Scale with a Substitute Pitch

Exercise 5: A Scale in a Given Order

Exercise 6: A Scale in a Given Order with Ordered Rhythm

Exercise 7: Concatenating Triads

Exercise 8: Concatenating Triads of Any Type

Exercise 9: Segments of Equal Duration

Exercise 10: Segments of Unequal Duration

Exercise 11: The Melody of an Image

Exercise 12: Integer Notation

Exercise 13: Integer Notation Collections and Subsets

Exercise 14: Integer Notation Collections and Transition Subsets

Exercise 15: Simple Probabilities

Exercise 16: A 12-​tone Row

Exercise 17: A 12-​tone Row in Palindrome

Exercise 18: Intervallic Content

Exercise 19: Using Melodic Motifs

Exercise 20: Eliminations

2 Harmony (Exercises 21-​40)

Exercise 21: Composing Transitions

Exercise 22: Using Segments, Melody Becomes Harmony

Exercise 23: Axis of Symmetry

Exercise 24: Using the Harmonic Series

Exercise 25: Using the Harmonic Series with a Pedal Tone

Exercise 26: Just Triads

Exercise 27: Using Integer Notation

Exercise 28: Diatonic?

Exercise 29: A 12-​tone Row

Exercise 30: "Circle" Progression

Exercise 31: Triads That Move in Thirds

Exercise 32: Triads That Move in Thirds and Progressions within a Progression

Exercise 33: Polychords, Triads over Triads

Exercise 34: Polytonality

Exercise 35: Pedal Tones

Exercise 36: Ideas Using Parallel Modes

Exercise 37: Clusters

Exercise 38: Sequences and Patterns.

Exercise 39: Implied Harmonies

Exercise 40: Contrafacts

3 Rhythm (Exercises 41-​60)

Exercise 41: Transformations Using Simple Math

Exercise 42: Using Segments

Exercise 43: Using Segments per Measure

Exercise 44: Non-​retrogradable Rhythms

Exercise 45: Patterns within Patterns

Exercise 46: Extracting the Rhythm of a Text

Exercise 47: Why Meter?

Exercise 48: Short, Long, Long, Short-​Using Morse Code

Exercise 49: Ostinato

Exercise 50: Playing with Hemiolas

Exercise 51: Hemiolas and Melodic Construction

Exercise 52: Polymeter

Exercise 53: Metric Modulations

Exercise 54: Using Rhythmic Motifs

Exercise 55: Motivic Displacement

Exercise 56: Isorhythmic Motets, Talea and Color

Exercise 57: Repeat Signs, Loops, and Internal Spiraling

Exercise 58: Composing with Unequal Rests and Pauses

Exercise 59: Eliminations, Everything Coming from the Same Tune

Exercise 60: Perceivable and Non-​perceivable Pulse

4 Texture (Exercises 61-​80)

Exercise 61: Analyzing Chopin

Exercise 62: Homorhythmic

Exercise 63: Melodic Motifs

Exercise 64: All the Same but Different

Exercise 65: Phasing

Exercise 66: Analyzing Debussy, Plaining

Exercise 67: Liszt, Simple Harmonies, Complex Texture

Exercise 68: Ostinatos

Exercise 69: Letting the Performer Make Decisions

Exercise 70: Aleatory Counterpoint

Exercise 71: Micropolyphony

Exercise 72: Counterpoint, Appropriating from Fux's Species

Exercise 73: Counterpoint "Tree"

1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and Others Combined

Exercise 74: Same Chord, Different Color (Orchestration)

Exercise 75: The Magic of the Unison and Timbral Modulation

Exercise 76: Volume of Orchestration

Exercise 77: Text Painting, Representing Text with Sounds

Exercise 78: Heterophony.

Exercise 79: Using Stratified Layers à la Ives

Exercise 80: Sound Masses

5 Form (Exercises 81-​90)

Exercise 81: Planning Contrast

Exercise 82: Composing with Modules

Exercise 83: The One-​way-​trip Composition, Developing Variations

Exercise 84: Theme and Variations

Exercise 85: Spinning around A, Rondo?

Exercise 86: Form as Process, Minimalism

Exercise 87: Palindromic Structures

Exercise 88: Available Forms à la Brown

Exercise 89: Monolithic Structures

Exercise 90: Game Pieces

6 Pre-​compositional Strategies (Exercises 91-​100)

Starting a New Composition: Challenges and Possible Solutions

Formal Plans

Using Matrices and Vector Graphics

Analysis and Stylistic Imitation

Improvisation

Connecting Worlds

Soundscapes and Nature

Repeat Yourself

Using the Computer as an Assistant

Exercise 91: Writing a Compositional Recipe

Exercise 92: Using a Matrix

Exercise 93: Deconstructing and Reconstructing I

Exercise 94: Deconstructing and Reconstructing II

Exercise 95: Creating a Compositional Plan

Exercise 96: Bringing Ideas from Other "Worlds" to Your Music

Exercise 97: Quotations as Triggers

Exercise 98: Articulating Connections

Exercise 99: Oblique Strategies by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt

Exercise 100: The Computer as Assistant

Appendices

A) Grading Rubric

B) Sample Curricula

C) Select Anthology of Scales and Musical Examples

D) Table of Instrument Ranges and Transpositions

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-19-005726-2

0-19-759906-0

0-19-005725-4

OCLC:

1240825643