This is the first entry for the Composer's Forum!
We had a meeting today to discuss the upcoming Composer's concert on Monday, Nov. 6. Start thinking about pieces you'd like to have on the concert (2-6 minute pieces, or somewhere around there....). This year we will be having a rehearsal for the concert, which is happening Saturday, Nov. 4 at 6pm in the recital hall. If you're having members outside the composer's group play, could you tell them about this rehearsal so we can see/hear how it all will fit together and offer feedback?
Also, are there any ideas for collaborative projects? I've been thinking about surrealism lately, and there's this game they played called "The Exquisite Corpse." It's where one person writes a sentence or draws a part of the body, and then they fold down the piece of paper and pass it along to another person (who can't see what they just wrote/drew), who does the same. After everyone has had a chance to draw/write something, the paper is unfolded to reveal a surreal character or story. I've known other composers who've done projects like this. I think it would be fun to try---maybe everyone could write 2-4 bars of a melody on one piece of paper, and a 2-4 bar chord progression on another, and then we could throw them together to reveal amazing combinations (or ear-splitting ones)! What do you think? Do you have other ideas?
We also talked about how often we should meet and agreed that we could meet either once a month or twice monthly, at a place that has some character, like a coffee shop or lounge on campus/near campus-- somewhere other than the concrete fortress (music building). We could sip cappuccinos and discuss, a'la 19th century salon-style, philosophy, contemporary composers and composition, poetry, jazz.....while wearing smoking jackets and ascots, of course. What do you think?
If you have any ideas or comments, please post!
posted by maestro @ 7:06 PM
4 Comments:
Hello! Siobhann, the site looks fabulous!! Very professional!! Meeting in a coffee shop would be great, especially if someone would bring their laptop and we could listen to new music or music that we are researching...
The "Corpse" game is really fun. I've played it before for 'get-to-know' things and stuff like that. The melody idea sounds great!!
One thing I've been interested in lately is a particular sound of music. It's the sound of the orchestral scores for old westerns and musicals and things. Music written in the 1950-70's, but trying to sound very turn of the century...I can't explain it very well. It's folksy, but it has a orchestraional quality that I really like. Do you any of you know what I'm talking about?
- Anna
Hey Anna,
I totally know what you mean about the folksy western orchestration style. You should try writing something in that vein. Maybe a cowgirl concerto? Lately, I've totally been into Bachrachian muted trumpets, and ca. 1976 Joni Mitchell bass lines/sexy seventies rock. It's hard to explain, but it's funny when you latch onto a certain style and find yourself wanting to write like that.
--S
Sweet, sweet, sexy seventies rock. Oh the joy of lovin' music!
I'm not sure what Dr. M would say if you started bringing in butt rock...you never know - he was a wanabe pop star in his younger days.
Where's a good example of Bachrachin muted trumpets? I don't think I've ever heard that, or at least knew I was hearing it.
Anna
Bachrachian as in Burt Bacharach ("Do you know the way to San Jose?" and "Raindrops keep fallin' on my head"). My friend and I have a strange obsession with him, and Henry Mancini. It's great stuff!
I didn't know Dr. M wanted to be a rock star in his younger days. Maybe we should interview him and post it on this site.....with his permission of course.
Post a Comment
<< Home