Creative Music Composition

Creative Music Composition is designed to be an introductory textbook for music students. "Creative composition"-composing in your own style, rather than in the style of a composer of the past-is embraced by music educators not only for composition students, but for beginning performers and music educators, and is often offered to all music students and non-music majors who wish to enhance their musical creativity.
With 25 years of experience teaching fledgling composers, the author tackles the key ingredients that make for successful composition, including: stimulus to the musical imagination; discussion of a variety of current musical languages; analysis of many examples from contemporary scores; technical exercises; suggestions as to how to start a composition; structures; and examinations of works from particular genres. Wilkins covers several musical languages, from folk and popular to serialism; analyses various rhythmic forms; suggests approaches for composing for a variety of instruments, from traditional to electronic ones, as well as for the human voice; addresses the nuts and bolts of score preparation; and offers career advice.
For all composition students-and for music students in general-Creative Music Composition offers a clear and concise introduction that will enable them to reach their personal goals.

Margaret Lucy Wilkins is a noted composer and educator. From 1976 until her retirement in 2003, she directed the Composition program at the University of Huddersfield (UK), where 250 students a year enroll in a "free composition" course. She also is a well-known composer and conductor, with many commissions for her own work.

Acknowledgements. Introduction. Glossary of Terms. 1. Young Composers and a Creative Environment. 2. Concepts of the Imagination 3. Structures 4. Musical Languages 5. Technical Exercises 6. Exploring Instruments 7. Composing for Traditional Ensembles 8. Composing for Voices 9. Composing for a Monodic Instrument 10. Moving Ahead. Music Examples. Contents of the CD. Bibliography. Index