Hi there, i am frankly an aweful composer, but i have never been taught how to compose, so i was just wondering (please dont post just to comment if i have used the wrong form of wondering) if anyone knew of, or even wrote, an books on composition. I mean like text books, i remember somewhere reading advice to read the 48 preludes and fugues fur klavier... id rather have something like the MTiP books, if such a book exists.

Thanks,
HC

Not very helpful I guess, but my view is that you can read as many books as you can on the subject and work through as many textbooks, but these are no substitute for getting down to writing, showing people who are willing to look and try them, and using the feedback to advance your skills. This is certainly how I've learnt to composer. My advice would be that if you have some compositions (even if you think they're awful) show them to some willing musician and try and get some feedback. I find this to be much more beneficial than any books. Sometimes what you think is awful, the next person thinks is wonderful!

David

You should make some sort of audio recording of your compositions too. I find that really helps. Come back to the recording after a few weeks and you will be a lot more objective.

I think i worded my question wrong, its not so much how to write it, ie what notes etc, but the structure, ie cadences y'know that sort of thing.

MTiP would probably be a good starting point, but after that there is just sooo much! Harmony alone is a huge topic, so is structure, melody etc etc. It might be an idea to take some of your favourite works, and study them, see what they do/don't use etc. If you suggest particular periods/styles you would like to compose in I expect people would come up with some recommendations.

I agree - what sort of music do you want to write - jazz/classical/popular/songs/instrumental?

classical / instrumental

the most important thing: never throw away ideas regardless on whether it fits in that section or not, you may well use them as I have done in a recent one where I ended up composing a cadenza instead of a development section.

i believe this website should help

http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=77

I can't remember if you've passed Grade 5 theory already...


If not, the following web site has chapters on composition for Grade 5...

http://www.mymusictheory.com/lessons.html


and this one has a downloadable PDF on G5 composition...

http://www.musicteachers.co.uk/resources/

I asked this question a while ago, and on the basis of several recommendations bought: Schoenberg Fundamentals of Musical Composition which is every bit as good as everyone says ... but it assumes that you already know some Harmony and Counterpoint and have a well-trained ear, so you'll need other sources to learn those.

<-- 5 weeks and 6 days to go

I find a good way to get a better feel for composing is just to listen to lots of music with the scores - when you hear something that you particularly like, find out what is going on harmonically or whatever, try to work out why the piece works as a whole too, then apply similar principles to your own music.

for example, the first movement of Mahler 9 is based on 3 motifs, which are themselves based upon a combination of rising 3rds and falling seconds - it is Mahler's treatment of this material which makes the music as good as it is, but because they are all linked harmonically holds the entire movement together.

I found a book named "The complete idiot´s guide to music composition"! It´s not only for well educated musicians but also for those who just know that they want to try to compose, and explains the basic things. I studied composition and theory and as a teacher I like this book and show it to my students.
But if you can get some people to play your music, or listen to it through the computer (software like Finale or Sibelius f. ex.) the ear is the best to judge if the music "works" or not.