Definition and Role of a Composer
– The term ‘composer’ is descended from Latin, specifically ‘compōnō,’ meaning ‘one who puts together.’
– The earliest known use of the term in a musical context is from Thomas Morley’s 1597 book, ‘A Plain and Easy Introduction to Practical Music.’
– Composer is a loose term that generally refers to any person who writes music.
– It is often used to denote people who are composers by occupation or those who work in the tradition of Western classical music.
– In the tradition of popular music, the terms songwriter or singer-songwriter are more commonly used.
– In the development of European classical music, the function of composing music initially did not have much greater importance than that of performing it.
– The preservation of individual compositions did not receive enormous attention, and musicians often modified compositions for performance.
– Before the Romantic period, composition usually went side by side with singing, instructing, and theorizing.
– Performers have the freedom to add artistic interpretation to a piece, such as varying articulation, phrasing, and expressive effects.
– Different performers’ interpretations of the same work can vary widely, creating a range of performance styles.
– A musical composition can have multiple composers, especially in popular music collaborations or musical theater.
– Compositions can include words, images, or computer programs that explain how to create musical sounds.
– Music that makes use of randomness and chance is called aleatoric music, associated with contemporary composers like John Cage.
– The level of individual variation in music depends on the musical culture and time period.
– Composers became increasingly specific and detailed in their instructions to performers, valuing faithfulness to their written intention.
– In much popular music, the composer writes a composition, which is then transmitted via oral tradition.
– In some Western classical traditions, music may be composed aurally in the mind of the musician and subsequently written down.
– The nature and means of individual variation in music vary depending on the musical culture and time period.
– Composers in the Baroque era often left their compositions in bare outline, expecting performers to add improvised ornaments during a performance.
– The historically informed performance movement allows performers to elaborate on the music as given in the score, particularly for Baroque music.
– In Western art music, composers typically orchestrate their compositions.
– In musical theatre and pop music, songwriters may hire an arranger to do the orchestration.
– In genres other than classical music, performers generally have more freedom to interpret and rearrange songs.
– Pop songs may undergo arrangements when creating covers, with little expectation of an exact rendition of the original.
– Faithfulness to the original composition is highly valued in classical music, while other genres may prioritize creative interpretation.
History and Employment of Composers
– Composers in the Middle Ages worked for the Catholic church and composed religious music.
– During the Renaissance, composers were employed by aristocrats and wrote courtly love songs.
– In the Baroque era, composers worked for aristocrats or as church employees.
– The Classical period saw composers organizing public concerts for profit.
– In the 20th century, composers sought employment as professors and earned money from sales of their works.
– Women composers were marginalized in the classical repertoire.
– Women composers in the 1800s focused on art songs for small recitals.
– Few women composers are part of the standard repertoire.
– Notable women composers include Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, and Cécile Chaminade.
– Women composers in the 20th century gained less attention than their male counterparts.
– Famous composers tend to cluster in specific cities throughout history.
– Paris has been the main hub for classical music in all periods.
– London and Rome also played significant roles in different centuries.
– Berlin was important in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
– New York City emerged as a major city for classical music in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Modern Training for Composers
– Professional composers often have a background in performing classical music during their childhood and teens.
– Postsecondary studies for aspiring composers can be pursued in colleges, conservatories, and universities.
– Conservatories provide lessons and orchestral experience for composition students.
– Universities offer various composition programs, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
– Classical summer camps and festivals offer coaching opportunities for composition students.
– Bachelor’s degrees in composition are four-year programs.
– Composition students take individual lessons, participate in amateur orchestras/choirs, and study music history and theory.
– Significant compositions are required before graduation.
– Some composers may also hold a bachelor’s degree in music performance or music theory.
– Master of Music degrees in composition consist of private lessons, ensemble experience, and graduate courses in music history and theory.
– Concerts featuring the composition students’ pieces are required.
– An M.Mus. is often required for teaching composition at a university or conservatory.
– Adjunct professor or instructor positions are attainable with an M.Mus., but tenure track positions may require more qualifications.
– To become a tenure track professor, a doctoral degree is often required.
– The key doctoral degree in composition is the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.).
– D.M.A. degrees require advanced study and usually additional credit hours beyond a master’s degree.
– Admission to D.M.A. programs is highly selective and requires submission of compositions.
– Students must prepare significant compositions and may be required to present concerts of their works.
References and Citations
– OED: composer, 3..
– Composer. Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
– Stevenson, Angus; Lindberg, Christine A., eds. (2015) [2010]. Composer. New Oxford American Dictionary. ISBN978-0-19-539288-3. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
– compose (v.). Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
– Root, Deane L. (2001 Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composer
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
