February 2012 - Composer's Toolbox

Tool #25: Rehearsal Letters or Rehearsal Numbers?

DanLisMusic Posted on February 26, 2012

Firstly, let’s agree that if you are writing anything medium-short length or longer and for more than one performer, you should include some form of rehearsal markings in addition to clear, visible measure numbers (I prefer to put the measure number font to 14 to 18 Arno Pro with no italics, and make the ranges […]

Opinion Professional Development Tools for Composers

Rudyard Kipling’s “If” as a word of advice to composers

DanLisMusic Posted on February 21, 2012

I recently had the pleasure of performing a work by composer Josh Hummel, a movement called “Yours Is the Earth” from his set of choral pieces “The Games”. The chamber choir in which I sing performed it at our winter concert just over a week ago. Its text is taken from Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If”, […]

Form Issues Opinion Tools for Composers

Form Should Always Be a Top Priority

DanLisMusic Posted on February 14, 2012

I’m a huge proponent of taking care with form in a piece. Too often I see pieces that suddenly switch sections jarringly, unnecessarily, and disjointedly, to the point of rendering the listener lost, clueless, and unnecessarily startled for no reason. Disjunct form is great for theatrical and dance works because it is often subject to […]

Issues Opinion

Genres: Necessary or Too Divisive?

DanLisMusic Posted on February 7, 2012

It seems that we have a myriad of genres that demand audiences’ attention, and while it is good that we celebrate a host of different musics, I have reservations about this multiplicity of genres. At times it feels like the borders separating these genres of pop, classical, jazz, world, etc. and all of their sub-genres […]

Rhythm Theory Tools for Composers

Tool #24: Asymmetric and Mixed Meters

DanLisMusic Posted on February 1, 2012

Now I’d like to talk about two (really one in my use of them) of my favorite compositional devices: asymmetric and mixed meters. The goals I use them for are throwing rhythms off, motivic development, and playing around with perception of beats and time. My main use of them: Asymmetric and mixed meters can be […]