Composing music is the art of unity of creativity and a practical skill. This art of music composition demonstrates a composer’s emotional relation or tells tales of one’s life and connects with the audiences to preserve them and present them to the world for all generations to experience such freshness. There has been a significant evolution in the art of composing since the pieces of the classical maestros, but essentially, music composition remains the same, which is the art of fusing multiple musical elements into a coherent whole. The blog will take you through the nitty-gritty of music composition by discussing some of its creative processes and important techniques.
What is music composition?
At the most fundamental level, music composition is merely conceiving and creating music in all these elements: melody, harmony, rhythm, and dynamics. A composer is thus an architect of sound who contrives pieces that bring forth all shades of human emotion, for instance, joy, melancholy, irritation, sorrow, and even pain.
Major Elements of Composition
- Melody: Sometimes considered a composition’s “soul,” melody refers to the succession of notes that makes up the main theme. A catchy melody captures listeners’ ears and lingers on in their heads when the music has stopped.
- Harmony: Combinations of several different musical notes played simultaneously to make chords. Harmonies often add complexity and fullness to a piece while creating tension and resolution, which contributes to greater emotional impact.
- Rhythm: Rhythm is the body of a musical structure that can give a skeleton form to any melody, providing structure and movement. The pace at which the music unravels is provided by rhythm, which often heavily influences the mood or energy level of a composition.
The Creative Journey
Every composer embraces the art of creating music differently, considering that composing music is an extremely intimate and personal process. Still, certain steps can help up-and-coming composers:
- Seeking Great Musings
Everyone draws this quality from different things- life, the world, books, or even other forms of creative expression. Composers extend themselves to different kinds of sounds to get ideas that fill up the imagination and create new territories.
- Exposition of a Theme
Every piece of music has to start with an idea or a theme. This core concept is what will be worked on to provide the different variations of melody, harmony, or rhythm. This often leads to the compression of the theme being worked upon. Composers go through this process, and they achieve a form of the theme that works for the sentiment they want to convey.
- Laying Out the Plan of the Work
Most of the time, compositions are built in particular shapes: something like sonata-allegro or rondo. These formats ensure the piece is cohesive, telling a certain story in a certain order and making sure that the intrigue does not fade away in the process.
- Creating Harmony and Inter-Vocal Relations
The compositional concepts are heightened by the effective application of harmony, which adds more sound textures. There is also counterpoint, which is when two or more melodies are being played at the same time, it allows for more features, making it better.
- Orchestration and Arrangement
In executing a piece of music, selecting appropriate instruments is paramount. This is called orchestration, allocating the different musical phrases to different instruments. At the same time, the arrangement refers to making changes to the piece to suit different groups or forms of music to give the composer a new avenue of exploration.
Techniques for Unforgettable Melodies
Composing interesting melodies requires technical expertise as well as artistic sensibility. The techniques mentioned below are the most effective ones:
- Balance and symmetry: Since repetition requires variability, it is logical to sum up familiarity and create interest with unexpected twists.
- Melodic contour: This is the way of the shape or trajectory of a melody. It can be emotive; hence, the way a composer contrived rising or falling lines to reflect the mood intended by him forms an important part.
- Rhythmic Elements: Incorporating syncopation or distinctive rhythmic motifs, which make melodies catchy and interesting, can be found in a highly memorable addition.
Conclusion
The music composition art fuses creativity and technique that can help composers achieve extraordinary auditory experiences. With the mastery of the essentials: melody, harmony, and rhythm, and embracing the creative process, young musicians will create their voice in this timeless art. Whether attaining this music formal education or exploring oneself, one can embark on this rewarding journey of musical creation to contribute to the rich tapestry of human expression through sound.
Start your Journey as a Music Composer
Do you still need to figure out how to pursue a career as a professional music composer? To gain access to industry-standard tools and resources and to acquire the necessary skills, think about pursuing formal training. With sufficient exposure to the industry and practical training, you can launch your career immediately upon graduation. The AAFT School of Music provides a variety of courses in related subjects to provide you with all the necessary skills to pursue a music career.
Leave a comment