The Cambridge Companion to Composition

by Toby Young (Editor)

Overview

There are as many ways of creating music as there are composers in the world, with a vast array of possible methods and practices. This book provides essential critical and practical tools for composers as they try to navigate this complex landscape, whilst also offering provocations for practitioners discovering their own voices and solidifying their place in their musical communities. Designed to be a companion in the truest sense, the book offers practical support throughout the creative process and thought-provoking insights on technical questions for a range of compositional approaches.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108831697
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	05/30/2024
Series:	Cambridge Companions to Music
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 1.50(h) x 9.50(d)

About the Author

Toby Young is Professor of Composition at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. An award-winning composer and producer, his music has been performed by ensembles and orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and Academy of Ancient Music, and he has written top-ten hits with pop and jazz artists including the Rolling Stones, Chase & Status, Duran Duran, Florence Welch, Kano, Snow Ghosts, MOKO, and Jacob Banks.

Table of Contents

Contents; List of music examples; List of figures; List of tables; List of contributors; Introduction; Part I. Creative Processes: 1. Inspiration Howard Skempton; 2. Compositional unfolding Robert Saxton; 3. Out of one, many: aspects, relationships, and attitudes to linearity Kenneth Hesketh: 4. Instruments and invention Tonia Ko; 5. From sketch to score Julian Anderson; Part II. Technique(s): 6. Composing for ensemble Cheryl Frances-Hoad; 7. Composing for orchestra Roberto Sierra; 8. Composing for voice Toby Young; 9. Composing for choir David Bednall; 10. Composing for stage Nico Muhly; 11. Composing for the screen Debbie Wiseman; Part III. Styles, Conventions, and Issues: 12. Dots, squiggles, and words: notation in recent music Christopher Fox; 13. Sonorities and spectra Christian Mason and Jon Hargreaves; 14. Electronic composition: histories and affordances Lauren Redhead; 15. Transcultural composing Raymond Yiu; 16. Nothing new under the sun: composition as adaptation Cecilia Livingstone; 17. Composition and ecological listening Liza Lim; Part IV. Building a Career: 18. Finding your voice Eleanor Alberga; 19. Beyond the notes: how to tell your story, and who needs to know Naomi Belshaw; 20. Practical advice for emerging composers Hollie Harding and Toby Young; Further reading; Index.