Re: What do you think is necessary in order to have an excellentcomposition?

[Daryl Shawn <highhorse@mhorse.com>]

My first reaction is that I value rise and build, a sense of growing a 
climax. But this second I'm listening to Philip Glass's extremely 
repetitive "music in fifths", which has no dynamic variation, no climax 
to speak of, and no structural build other than the accruing effect of 
repetition. And I love it, as much as I love, say, Bach's "Chaconne", 
which is full of climaxes and dynamics and shifts and all of that stuff.

I'd venture to say that, much as in a human face, the pleasing aspects 
of a composition are due to a balance particular to that one entity. If 
the structure makes its own sense, anything can work.

I do find that the golden rectangle is a construct that pops up again 
and again, particularly in pop songs. The climax, bridge, solo, whatever 
is nearly always at that magical point.

Daryl Shawn
www.swanwelder.com

> hello list,
>
> this is yet another post about a research topic that i
> am dying to know more about. of course, i can read
> books by famous composers but i want to hear from
> practicing composers about what they think makes a
> great composition?
>
> what is a great composition to you?
>
> particular structures?
>
> rise/build and climax?
>
> elements of surprise?
>
> predictability?
>
> tonal structures?
>
> rhythmic structures?
>
> depth and reverb?
>
> frequency distribution?
>
> quality of sound?
>
> what else?
>
>  Margaret Noble
>  Audio Artist 
>  http://www.myspace.com/margaretnoble