I once wrote on a forum that male composers tend to create epic music that gradually becomes louder and more intense until it reaches a climax, as a male orgasm translated into music. I expected to be kicked out, but surprisingly, my idea wasn't considered weird. No one was offended or hurt, and there was no need for a safe space. Perhaps there were too many Europeans and Canadians in the discussion. So, I'm trying again. And I wonder if this forum is going to *beep* the naughty word.
By the way, now I want to know what typical female writing would be like. I guess it could be melodious, sentimental, civilized, neat and somewhat conservative, but what will it resemble? An obsession with trivial matters like appearances?
You should know I wrote this with a big smile on my face. Still, it's an interesting subject.
Replies
Modern female composers for the concert hall are a long way away from melodious and sentimental in the way I think you mean it. Listen to the likes of Saariaho or Unsuk Chin for some of the best of today's music written by a woman that holds its own and even betters music of many of their male contemporaries.
yes, I would say I don't know a lot of bombastic and vacuously epic scores written by women (though there may well be some) but otherwise I couldn't really tell the difference these days.
That's just because they think they need to be one of the boys to have success. It's peer pressure. In reality these women are very unhappy.
"male composers tend to create epic music that gradually becomes louder and more intense until it reaches a climax, as a male orgasm translated into music"
Well, to get the discussion started, for better or worse. . . in what ways would this be any different from a musical representation of a female orgasm?
I would say as a broad statement to express my views on this, that if given a blind listen to musical works by unknown composers of mixed genders, none of us here would be able to identify the gender accurately or consistently among the works.
Visit VI-Control, the composition section. A lot of young men who write epic music with a climax, always supported by a choir, loud brass and heavy percussion. Based on a simple chord progression though. If you have a DAW, you don't really need a lot of knowledge
That kind of music is not for me. I prefer fugues. 😉
Also, some of the best climaxes I've heard involves using silence at the most tense moment. Big and loud isn't always the best solution to a musical climax.
(In fact, just this week I wrote a big climax for my WIP fugue. After 2 days, I now hate it and will replace it with something more refined. One of the things I love about fugue writing: it forces you to confront very real musical issues without cheaping out with loud brass and percussion. You're forced to come up with an actual good solution.)
In my country the sky is wet. So is everything else by the way.
Orgasm?
Isn't that obsessive playing of the organ?
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LOL
None of the woman composers replied, just as I suspected. Sigh... we are so calm and modest. Women should have a male ego, that would make a lot of difference.