So what makes a composer a composer? I mean when are you entitled? Does a composer need a music degree? A contract? A gig? I write music. Can I still be called a composer without any of that, music good or bad? Just curious.
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That makes a lot of sense Ray. Just putting notes to sheet doesn't make you much of a composer if nobody enjoys the music. I suppose you could say it's like me cutting into someones chest and calling myself a heart surgeon, which I am not by the way. Does anyone out there ever worry that nobody will enjoy your music or what if you are the only one who thinks your works are good? Or is everyone here super confident?
Thank you Anne, it's good to know that others share the same worry and I can see how helpful this forum would be in regards to that. I am still in awe of the gifted composers I have seen on this site alone and can't imagine why you or they would have worries, but I suppose it's natural. I am definitely here to learn and try new things and in just one day I've already received useful advice. I'm not exactly sure how to take the rest of your post regarding ranking order and very little so-called talent, but I've made it quite clear that I am no super musical genius (even though my mother thinks I am) and I am in no way making light of music composition in any way. I have been away from music for 20 years and am quite serious about gaining helpful knowledge to advance my compositions and even though we all hope others enjoy our music, at the end of the day, if I'm satisfied with my work, I guess that's all that matters. Of course I'm never satisfied, always thinking this could be better. I'm just lacking the tools on how to do that. I had opportunities many years ago that I foolishly passed on, so now I'm determined to see just what might have been. I can however say that no matter what, as you stated above, I am definitely enjoying the process!
Traditionally a composer is someone that composes instrumental music and songwriters are those who write songs. Composers have traditionally been more of a hi-brow, scholarly, deep and philosophical craft, where songwriting has been more a a down-to-earth no education needed, dont even need to read music kind of situation where you put less subtle and more obvious melody and harmony to words.
Both can be art. both can be ridiculous.
Today the word 'composer' is stretched across much of the grey area that used to be so very obvious to those writing symphonies vs the Bob Dylan's of the world.
Music is about expression of emotion with notes. Art is about truth. I hope to attain truth and acumen of emotion both in my music with a reverence for tradition and hi level of craft, and to explore new places yet to be discovered as a scientist, yet still being accessible to the lay-man who lives in popular music. I dont expect it is achievable, but that is my personal goal :-)
I consider myself an intellectual, a musician, a philosopher, a listener, a lover. To me to know my art and myself is to have a balanced intonation with the intellect, the emotional being, and the soul. To me, the pursuit must be whole and pure, and therefore I hold just as high to read music and understand theory and harmony, as I do to feel the emotion and simplistic beauty of a single note and a pulse. I hear often polyphonic counterpoint that gets insanely complex, but I try and spend the time to filter it down to the root of the message I am trying to hear. I hold in my heart to be a composer on par with being a doctor or a dedicated public servant of peace, or anything else that takes a lifetime of love and devotion to unfurl all the lovely details :-)
I also think that while there are many levels of intellect on this planet (not all brains are equal!) I feel that every soul is 100% equal and every soul has a real and valid message to speak about in this world. So here is how I judge music:
1. it must not sound synthetically wrong (i.e. bad performances with bad samples leaving a message not intended by the composer)
2. it must speak of truth to the composer (i.e. if a song speaks of truth on some level it is valid, no matter how intellectual or cheesy, but Kenny G with his facade of .... something... needs to be incinerated haha)
3. there is a certain amount of dues that must be paid by the composer to have my full respect. Dues can be found in many ways, it generally comes from someone REALLY trying hard, so very hard, for an extended time, to understand the world around them enough to have something prophetic to say about existence or the human condition
After that, to me, all music is valid and there is no style or complexity requirements to make good music in my book ;-)
At the end of the day, if you feel music and you write it and it speaks truth to you, you are a composer
Lori Sweeney > Chris AlpiarDecember 2, 2008 at 7:33pm
Thanks for the reply Chris. I'd like to add that you appear to have quite the setup going on for composing! What's up with the picture where your head is taped up? Do you talk too much or something ha ha? I like your Kenny G comment although someone somewhere enjoys his music right? I will say though that whether I enjoy a certain genre or not, I have great respect for performers, songwriters, composers, etc. no matter what type of music they are involved with. The last line of your comment is brilliant! Anyone can HEAR music, but not everyone can FEEL it.
I went to a composer's seminar in London yesterday where showreels were played in front of everyone and disected. In my opinion the quality was very high and many of them were professionals but every single composer felt absolutely terrified and intimidated by the quality of the others' works. I'm not shy and I really was very nervous throughout.
There's a great quote in "On the Track" (I think) where some great composer says that they all have spent time under the piano feeling sick because they're not good enough. This quote has really helped me whenever I begin to doubt myself. I hope it helps others on here.
Lori Sweeney > James SempleDecember 2, 2008 at 5:08am
That's a great quote and I shall not forget it. I suppose that is why I've always been encouraged to play and listen to other composers works. It seems everyone has their own style or flair for composing but without experimenting other forms of composition, it may eventually start to all sound the same, no? Of course one must be true to their best attributes, but it does not mean they cannot grow by learning from others. I would be terrified if someone disected my music too! They would say "Ummmmm...." Actually I really don't think I want to know WHAT they might say.
One of great composers (Xenakis if I remember well) said: Two things I require from a composer. He (she) should a) invent and b) astonish me. Most great composers do invent and astonish listeners. The question is who are the listeners and what they get with the astonishment.
They may get a philosophical enlightening, a political motivation or de-motivation, beautiful fairy-tale images, empty-mindness of dull rhythms or song words, joy and desire to dance and sing, beautiful nature images, strong and painful emotions etc. A composer, just like a writer, reflects his (her) own world and feelings of this kind.
So I think a composer should:
a) Well understand what is the thing he (she) is inventing. This can be a new harmony, a writing technique, new instrument combination, new form etc, no matter what is the level of education.
b) Be astonished (inspired and affected) by his (her) own music.
In this case there is a chance to feel oneself a composer and to attract the listeners.
Lori Sweeney > Andrew GleibmanDecember 2, 2008 at 6:53pm
That is so true Andrew. I just had a similar conversation with a friend regarding not just what astonishes or moves a listener but how and why people associate imagery to certain music. Is it inherent or suggestive? I suppose it really doesn't matter either way, as long as the listener is affected in some manner.
Lori Sweeney > Andrew GleibmanDecember 7, 2008 at 1:00am
Well after what you said Anne, I've come to this conclusion. There is no definitive answer to my question. To analogize your point, I can cook, but I don't walk around calling myself a chef. So I suppose it is left up to the individual to define what they consider "what makes a composer a composer?" Yes we can all be many things and whether one considers themselves a composer, mother, wife, former business owner, former this or that, it is all left to the perspective of how others perceive "what a composer is." The other conclusion I've reached from this discussion from all the input provided is that it doesn't really matter what makes someone "entitled." It's how passionate you are about getting there and how deserving YOU think you are of that title. I think I am a composer, but I do not make that my title, because that is not my profession. Your point is quite valid and so is John's and Chris's and everyone else that shared their opinions, so again, it's all about perspective. Thanks everyone for your input, knowledge, opinions, stories, and advice!
One of great composers (Xenakis if I remember well) said: Two things I require from a composer. He (she) should a) invent and b) astonish me. Most great composers do invent and astonish listeners. The question is who are the listeners and what they get with the astonishment.
They may get a philosophical enlightening, a political motivation or de-motivation, beautiful fairy-tale images, empty-mindness of dull rhythms or song words, joy and desire to dance and sing, beautiful nature images, strong and painful emotions etc. A composer, just like a writer, reflects his (her) own world and feelings of this kind.
So I think a composer should:
a) Well understand what is the thing he (she) is inventing. This can be a new harmony, a writing technique, new instrument combination, new form etc, no matter what is the level of education.
b) Be astonished (inspired and affected) by his (her) own music.
In this case there is a chance to feel oneself a composer and to attract the listeners.
Can anyone do this?
So what makes a composer a composer? I mean when are you entitled? Does a composer need a music degree? A contract? A gig? I write music. Can I still…
Replies
Both can be art. both can be ridiculous.
Today the word 'composer' is stretched across much of the grey area that used to be so very obvious to those writing symphonies vs the Bob Dylan's of the world.
Music is about expression of emotion with notes. Art is about truth. I hope to attain truth and acumen of emotion both in my music with a reverence for tradition and hi level of craft, and to explore new places yet to be discovered as a scientist, yet still being accessible to the lay-man who lives in popular music. I dont expect it is achievable, but that is my personal goal :-)
I consider myself an intellectual, a musician, a philosopher, a listener, a lover. To me to know my art and myself is to have a balanced intonation with the intellect, the emotional being, and the soul. To me, the pursuit must be whole and pure, and therefore I hold just as high to read music and understand theory and harmony, as I do to feel the emotion and simplistic beauty of a single note and a pulse. I hear often polyphonic counterpoint that gets insanely complex, but I try and spend the time to filter it down to the root of the message I am trying to hear. I hold in my heart to be a composer on par with being a doctor or a dedicated public servant of peace, or anything else that takes a lifetime of love and devotion to unfurl all the lovely details :-)
I also think that while there are many levels of intellect on this planet (not all brains are equal!) I feel that every soul is 100% equal and every soul has a real and valid message to speak about in this world. So here is how I judge music:
1. it must not sound synthetically wrong (i.e. bad performances with bad samples leaving a message not intended by the composer)
2. it must speak of truth to the composer (i.e. if a song speaks of truth on some level it is valid, no matter how intellectual or cheesy, but Kenny G with his facade of .... something... needs to be incinerated haha)
3. there is a certain amount of dues that must be paid by the composer to have my full respect. Dues can be found in many ways, it generally comes from someone REALLY trying hard, so very hard, for an extended time, to understand the world around them enough to have something prophetic to say about existence or the human condition
After that, to me, all music is valid and there is no style or complexity requirements to make good music in my book ;-)
At the end of the day, if you feel music and you write it and it speaks truth to you, you are a composer
There's a great quote in "On the Track" (I think) where some great composer says that they all have spent time under the piano feeling sick because they're not good enough. This quote has really helped me whenever I begin to doubt myself. I hope it helps others on here.
They may get a philosophical enlightening, a political motivation or de-motivation, beautiful fairy-tale images, empty-mindness of dull rhythms or song words, joy and desire to dance and sing, beautiful nature images, strong and painful emotions etc. A composer, just like a writer, reflects his (her) own world and feelings of this kind.
So I think a composer should:
a) Well understand what is the thing he (she) is inventing. This can be a new harmony, a writing technique, new instrument combination, new form etc, no matter what is the level of education.
b) Be astonished (inspired and affected) by his (her) own music.
In this case there is a chance to feel oneself a composer and to attract the listeners.
Andrew Gleibman said:
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