The Elements of Music Composition: Organicism. Coherence. Comprehensibility.

The Elements of Music Composition takes composers beyond theory and systems of composition for composing original music. Readers learn how the elements and cornerstones in music work together and build an organic music composition. This book serves as the missing piece of the puzzle for composers who have studied the major music subject areas but feel there is something missing in their musical understanding and technique.

Designed for Composers of All Levels

Pulling back the veil to reveal how master composers create original works

Directed towards musicians who have some understanding of music theory and composing but lack formal training in music composition, this book deconstructs the dogma associated with the seemingly impenetrable art of music composition. Composers are taught the concept of organic music and begin to develop an understanding of how coherence and comprehensibility play a major role in the creation of musical works.

Understand the Principles Composers Use to Create Masterworks

Music theory is only a stepping stone to the creation of original music compositions

Music theory fails to account for an individual's capacity to experience beauty and emotion in a musical work, and it only teaches a composer to replicate an established style. Music theory is an excellent training tool, but the composer who wants to go beyond the ordinary must dissect the composing process and reveal its mysteries must understand the concepts outlined in The Elements of Music Composition.

Go Beyond Music Theory to Create Effective Musical Works

Teaching the principles of construction gives composers the ability to create original works

While student composers need to learn established systems of music theory and composition, systems should be abandoned when it comes time to compose authentic works of art. This text describes how a composer can use melody, harmony, form, orchestration, and timbre in a connected process where every element contributes to the composition and serves a role.

A Practical Approach to Music Composition Without Arbitrary Exercises

The craft of music composition is revealed through a careful review of the elements of music

Composers will not complete exercises, improve technique, or learn the typical concepts addressed in your average music composition course. This text aims to get deep inside the process of composing to reveal fundamental principles that apply to several musical styles. Generic exercises that instruct a composer to create a melody on an established chord progression, fix voice leading errors, and create modulations to scripted keys do not promote original thought. Composers must be taught the principles behind the theories to understand how to compose original music that stems from a deep understanding of the nature of music.

Suitable for the Casual Listener or the Professional Composer and Musician

Learn to compose music not through the study of other composers theories, but through universal principles that apply to musical works.

The best composers in history learned to write music by following in the footsteps of those who came before. Composers created music based on principles of voice leading and counterpoint before the advent of music theory. Beethoven was notorious for carefully working out counterpoint exercises, and he went to great lengths to ensure his exercises followed the proper procedures. Mozart used counterpoint to teach his own students. This book reveals the basic underlying principles of music composition so composers can create effective musical works based on sound principles of music composition.