Fifth Discussion @ Poppa Rollo's 09-28-05 @ 10:00pm

Topic of discussion -

CRAFT vs. INSPIRATION (for the composer)
----------TECHNIQUE vs. MUSICALITY (for the performer)-----------

Fourth Discussion @ Poppa Rollo's 09-21-05 @ 10:00pm

Topic of discussion - CREATIVITY

Great articles discussed located under "Links"

Third Discussion @ Poppa Rollo's 09-14-05 @ 10:00pm

Composers that attended:

Ben
Chris
David
Derek
Joanna
Mandie
Margaret
Stephanie
Steven

Discussion began with the question:

How long (time) should a piece of music be?

and quickly led to

Who are we writing for?
- audience?
- ourselves?
- music as an entity?
- G(g)od?

Would you forfeit credit for a piece you wrote to make it less about you?
(Would you be willing to put someone else's name on your music?)

Anonymous concert idea (mystery concert)
The composition department would put on a concert with a program omitting all composers' names. Credit would be given for each piece at the end of the concert . . . or not.

Other ideas product of discussion
- group compose = each write four measures of a piece built upon the previously composed measures of our colleagues
- write a piece of music, put all into a box anonymously, each critique all the music in the box in a group setting to get feedback objectively . . . then reveal who's piece it was
- (one secret idea was discussed that has to do with anonymous creations that cannot be posted)

DISCUSSION TOPIC FOR NEXT WEEK
- - - C R E A T I V I T Y - - -

Second Discussion @ Poppa Rollo's 09-07-05 @ 10:00pm

Composers that attended:

Ben
Derek
"Doc" (McAllister)
Joanna
Jon
Maggie
Mandy
Stephanie
Steven

Products of discussion:

How do you compose?
- record improvisations on principal instrument then play back
the recording in order to fill in harmonies with the piano
- use computer program "Sonar" to manipulate pitches
- write down music realized in dreams
- write, write, write . . . from music that first appears to be bad
comes great compositions
- improvise on instruments other than principal instrument
(cheap recorders, percussion instruments, even objects not
traditionally recognized as musical instruments)
- inspired by painting (the act of painting as opposed to
studying others' paintings)

Characteristics of 24-hour concert
- has to be serious music of class (mature)
- it has to say what our department is about
- it needs to make people want to come to our Nov. 14th concert
out of curiosity and want for more (cliff-hanger . . .
"you think this is intriguing, come to our Nov. 14th concert.")

Ideas for 24-hour concert
- Strings in the Trees
- antiphonal players (ex. trumpeters on tops of numerous buildings
passing sound around)
- "pantomime" with music (people stand still until money is put in a
hat, at which point they begin to play)
- piano in the street in front of Waco Hall when chapel lets out
- play what you see (improvise off of the actions of those walking by)

IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL IDEAS ---
--- ADD IT AS A COMMENT TO THIS BLOG