Music Composition Books

Hello, more or less just starting out and trying to learn as much as I can about music composition. Was hoping for some recommendations on some good books to read? Have read through Idiot's Guide as well as Hearing and Writing Music. Looking for another perspective on it with a more intermediate take on things, that goes beyond or into more detail than the former did.

Another thing to consider: Pass on some books, and spend your buttons on some good CDs/recordings, and scores. Checking out great scores and performances of masterworks is an invaluable exercise....

Fundamentals of Musical Composition - Arnold Scoenberg

Harmony - Walter Piston

And a counterpoint book...I find Fux to be a bit too basic, but then again I wouldn't suggest Kennan's text because it costs $100 despite its greatness

thanks for these suggestions. The overall booklist is quite a bit different from what you'd typically find on Amazon just searching under music composition. Will need to consider this more later.

I just got a book today called, "Composing Music - A New Approach" by William Russo.

I've only done the very first exercise thus far. I'm a bit surprised because after reading the initial preface and general rules for the exercises I thought this book would be far too lame and elementary for what I was hoping to learn. But already I feel that I've learned something very powerful just in the very first exercise.

The first exercise is very simple. The author first tells a very short story about how I have been captured by a warlike tribe and they will spare my life only if I write an acceptable melody for them on their Imperial Flute that can only play four notes. He gives me the four notes it can play.

He also says that I must use a 5/4 rhythm using only 3 quarter notes then a half note in each measure, not rests are permitted.

This might seem extremely trivial to someone who wants to become a composer. In fact, it seemed that way to me at first too. However, I am determined to make the most of this book and take these exercises seriously no matter how trivial they might first appear.

Well, as it turns out I happen to play the flute and have one handy. The author suggests and even encourages the use of actual insturments to aid in the composition process whenever possible. So I got my flute out and began to compose my "life saving" music using the note and meter restrictions that have been given.

Surprisingly my first composition was terrible. It was 12 measures long and sounded like someone just playing random notes. Even though I had tried to make sense of it. It wasn't "music".

I tried again, and again. It wasn't until my fifth composition that I actually came up with a melody that I truly liked.

The point is that I actually feel like I learned something from this incredibly simple exercise.

Moreover, I'm not even tempted to move on to the second exercise yet. I would like to play around even more with this first exercise. However, just for the sake of progress I think I will move forward. The second exercises still uses the same four-note limit, but allows any addition octaves of those four notes to be played, as well as offering two different 4/4 rhythm patterns to choose from randomly throughout the piece. These include more complex patterns with only quavers and semiquavers but still not using any rests. I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with that one.

So while this book first appeared to be over simplistic, I'm starting to think that if taken seriously it may very well contain the kinds of help that I'm seeking. It did have good reviews.

I'm just getting started on it so it's too early to really say whether it will be helpful or not. But I kind of like it so far. Even though this is just my first day with it. \

I'm sure it's not going to compare with those large expensive textbooks. But this seems to be more on the 'intuitive' level that I was seeking. It's definitely a "Hands-On" approach to music composition.

I've just ordered the book recommended by Abra. I have crap loads of more academic composition related books, but this sounds like it might be a fun and useful way of being a bit more creative. Can't wait 'till it arrives. :happy:

I've just ordered the book recommended by Abra. I have crap loads of more academic composition related books, but this sounds like it might be a fun and useful way of being a bit more creative. Can't wait 'till it arrives. :happy:

Oh gee Mark. I didn't mean to "recommend" it.

I bought it because the description and reviews sounded pretty good. I only just got the thing and I have no idea whether I'm actually going to like or not. I am starting to get into it thought. I think it a book that is focused more on being creative than about actually teaching music theory. Although, it does do that too.

Since you've already ordered it though I will recomend that you read the preface very carefully and try to understand the mindset from whence the author is coming. When you read the "General Rules for the Exercises" (the book is basically nothing but a set of exercises), you're probably going to have the same initial reaction I had. You're going to be thinking, "Oh come on! You've got to be joking!"

The man basically wants you to tie both your hands behind your back musically and write music. Meaning that he places extreme restrictions on what elements of music you are premitted to use in the exerices. But there is a method to his madness.

Like with the first exercise. He gives you four notes, and a specific rhthym pattern that you must use in all your measures. That doesnt' leave much room for "creativity" it might seem. But actually what it forces you to do is to focus on creativity. You're forced to focus on creativity because of the restrictions that have been given to you.

That's the lesson to exercise one. And I actually feel like I got somethign out of that exercise. I'm not sure how the whole rest of the book will pan out since I've only just got it myself. But I think it's going to be along the same lines throughout the whole book.

Now that you've ordered it I hope you enjoy it. But I really didn't mean to be recommending at the this stage necessarily. I just think it's along the lines of the type of book I need. It's just a book of exercises in music composition with the focus being on creativity. I like the hands-on approach. It might be too elementary for you though.

Let me know how you make out with it.

Nothing is too elementry. Well, I don't mean that, but you get the idea :D.

From the reviews and the synopsis it really did sound like a worthwhile purchase, and it was about

I assume your not in school studying compostion, or you would have plenty of resources. But, that's okay. My advise would be to go to a local university book store and check out the texts they offer. Don't buy anything there though, just look. Check out half.com or amazon.com. Usually, you'll get a better deal. Or, if your really serious about composition, contact the music department and ask about private composition lesssons. Most professors would be more than happy to offer you out side lessons, but don't quote me on that, they're extremely busy, but sometimes you can get lucky. You'll develop better as a composer if you're guided by a knowledgeable teacher. We use "Tonal Harmony". It's a very good resource, theory from start to finish. Also, check out some basic counterpoint resources. Hope some of this was helpful. Good luck!

I have used the Russo book myself and agree that the straight jacket he imposes is what forces the creativity out. I have a million tools in my compositionaly 'arsenal' but everytime I try to write anything, I can't see the wood for the trees. Infintie choice is ultimately unhelpful. Boundaries force you to focus on the importance of each note and what it is you are trying to achieve as a composer. As a learner, my earliest problems were that I wanted to write 'The Firebird Suite' before I could string two bars together. Russo taught me humility and restraint.

Consult sheets (all periods but don't hesitate to study what you like : Bach, Mozart, Couperin (great =D), Haydn, Haendel, Chopin, Liszt, Wagner, Debussy, Ravel, Schoenberg, and if you want contemporary composers, it's recommanded) and listen to CDs, and before learning by heart theory and modulations, understand the processus. Music should be a "game", it's hard at the begining but don't dispair.

What about ebooks? Preferably free.

Have you used the search button? There are many other threads on the same topic.

For one, I (and other people) have suggested Alan Belkin's online guides to composition which can be found here. Rimsky-Korsakov's book on orchestration can also be found available online for free here.

Other than that, this website has a lot of information on music theory and some elementary stuff about history and composers. And you can always look up composers' biographies and main works on wikipedia, where you might find recordings of the works as well.

Other than that, you can find a lot of scores to study on IMSLP (and other websites, a list of which can be found here), and quite a few piano recordings on pianosociety.com, which might help you with your studying.

But be prepared to study scores and study recordings, and read books, and be patient because composition is not something you just learn one day and then you go off composing. You never stop learning.

And also use the search function and DO read the threads that other people replied to when your question is exactly the same as theirs.