What's your definition of a Composer?

Mild_Child · 12-29-2006, 11:07 PM

YEah, what do you think it takes to be a composer?

bandman · 12-29-2006, 11:29 PM

Sorry for a simple answer...

Composer - Any person who writes or creates original music in any form.

Not to be confused with...

Arranger - A person who takes someone elses ideas and sets them according to his/her own musical ideas.

rowuk · 01-02-2007, 03:18 PM

M-C,
What does it take to be a composer?
Basically just being willing to document your original musical ideas. If you want to be a good composer, then you should learn some theory so that your ideas are documented in a way that other people can make your ideas "audible".
It is sometimes helpful to have studied other peoples music to know if you really have something original or not. There are some "composers" of note out there that borrow or steal musical ideas for film soundtracks..................

Veldkamp · 01-02-2007, 03:32 PM

Stravinsky borrowed material from Ravel and vice versa, jazzsoloists borrowed material from other soloists. Nothing wrong with that as long as it serves the music.

What a good composer is is hard to define, I don't think the people found Stravinsky to be a good composer after the premiere of the Sacre. Later on it is seen as one of the best compositions ever.

And you don't have to know any theory to be a good composer. You just need a great imagination and lot's of good musical ideas. When you are also the performer, like a singer-songwriter, you don't have to put the composition on paper either.

krossum · 01-02-2007, 04:09 PM

well since this question was asked in the Jazz/Commercial forum...

This past summer I gave an interview to an old friend of mine from Nebraska, a composer named Nolan Schmit, for his "Composers and Coffee" podcast. During the interview we talked about how I approach jazz composition as well as my past involvement with composing and arranging. This is my first podcast interview - kinda cool. Anyway, it was just posted a few days ago and I thought I might share it with all you here at the TM. (check out my NPR voice!!)

http://www.nolanschmit.com/site/composersandcoffee.html

or

http://www.nolanschmit.com/site/thec...A95DCB4E6.html

Mild_Child - hope this answers your question.

happy new year!
-Kelly

12-29-2006, 11:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mild_Child New Friend Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3	What's your definition of a Composer? YEah, what do you think it takes to be a composer?
Mild_Child New Friend Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3

12-29-2006, 11:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
bandman Forte User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Lafayette, LA, USA Posts: 1,037	Re: What's your definition of a Composer? Sorry for a simple answer... Composer - Any person who writes or creates original music in any form. Not to be confused with... Arranger - A person who takes someone elses ideas and sets them according to his/her own musical ideas.
	__________________

01-02-2007, 03:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
rowuk Moderator Fortissimo User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Germany Brand: Nat, Piston, Rotary Posts: 3,771	Re: What's your definition of a Composer? M-C, What does it take to be a composer? Basically just being willing to document your original musical ideas. If you want to be a good composer, then you should learn some theory so that your ideas are documented in a way that other people can make your ideas "audible". It is sometimes helpful to have studied other peoples music to know if you really have something original or not. There are some "composers" of note out there that borrow or steal musical ideas for film soundtracks..................
	__________________ Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

01-02-2007, 03:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Veldkamp Piano User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: the Netherlands Brand: van Laar Posts: 368	Re: What's your definition of a Composer? Stravinsky borrowed material from Ravel and vice versa, jazzsoloists borrowed material from other soloists. Nothing wrong with that as long as it serves the music. What a good composer is is hard to define, I don't think the people found Stravinsky to be a good composer after the premiere of the Sacre. Later on it is seen as one of the best compositions ever. And you don't have to know any theory to be a good composer. You just need a great imagination and lot's of good musical ideas. When you are also the performer, like a singer-songwriter, you don't have to put the composition on paper either. Last edited by Veldkamp : 01-02-2007 at 03:42 PM.
	__________________ www.erikveldkamp.com http://trumpetkings.blogspot.com

01-02-2007, 04:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
krossum Piano User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 306	Re: What's your definition of a Composer? well since this question was asked in the Jazz/Commercial forum... This past summer I gave an interview to an old friend of mine from Nebraska, a composer named Nolan Schmit, for his "Composers and Coffee" podcast. During the interview we talked about how I approach jazz composition as well as my past involvement with composing and arranging. This is my first podcast interview - kinda cool. Anyway, it was just posted a few days ago and I thought I might share it with all you here at the TM. (check out my NPR voice!!) http://www.nolanschmit.com/site/composersandcoffee.html or http://www.nolanschmit.com/site/thec...A95DCB4E6.html Mild_Child - hope this answers your question. happy new year! -Kelly
	__________________ “This art is acquired only by laborious studies, for the rebellious nature of the instrument demands a great aptitude coupled with a persevering willingness to become a master of it.” – F.G.A. Dauverné (1857)

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Great composer passes	ecarroll	EC Downloading	16	06-21-2006 04:23 PM
Composer/Performer relationships	ecarroll	EC Downloading	3	10-16-2005 10:38 AM
If you could have dinner with ONE composer, who would it be?	Alex Yates	TM Lounge	39	10-09-2005 12:48 AM
What the composer/arranger wants...	stewmuse	Jazz / Commercial	2	01-02-2005 11:20 AM

Unleash Your Anger
Copyright 2006 TrumpetMaster.com	All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:56 AM. Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v2.2.0/Links 1.01 Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.9 Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.0.0 RC8