Artefact Creation
The Contrasting Project
The Project
One of the basic methods used in composition, whether consciously or not, involves the careful balancing of idea against idea. In sonata form, the principal contrast was (and is) drawn between the first and second subjects. This is generally achieved by key, tempo, melodic and harmonic style as well as texturally. In the twentieth century, perhaps due to the lessening importance of key as well as the increased divergence and variety in rhythm and tempo, while each of these aspects is still important, their balance has changed.
You are to investigate this balance.
Think of a musical idea. What characterises it? Is its tessitura high, medium or low? Is its mood lyrical, lively, rhythmic...? Is it principally melodic, harmonic, rhythmic? What is its tempo? For what instruments is it conceived?
As an experiment, take a number of these parameters and generate another idea that satisfies the direct opposite (or what you interpret as the direct opposite) of that parameter. So, if the idea is rhythmic, may the new idea lyrical; if its lively, make it slow and gentle or slow and dark; if the tessitura is medium, make the new tessitura very low or very high; if you think of the original idea as being played by a piano, make the new idea for a wind, brass or string instrument, etc., etc...
Repeat this process at least four times, each time coming up with an idea that is distinctly different from any others you've come up with. Above all, don't be concerned about questions of taste, delicacy or logic. Make the differences extreme.
When you're content with your ideas try putting them together. Don't necessarily try and join them gently or 'logically', although you might try this if you want. Be bold and don't be afraid of ideas that seem too much.
The Rules
As usual, this project has rules, which you must obey. They are designed not primarily to restrict you but to break you out of learned and tedious habits that themselves restrict your depth and variety of expression.
- Instrumentation should generally be limited to resources available in the class - if you wish to use other resources it is your responsibility to ensure that those resources are available in the workshop.
- Duration should not fall outside the following formula:- average tempo * approximate number of beats > 4800 and <20000.
- The resulting compositions will be performed during the week 8 workshops.
General Notes from the last time this was done
This project has not run before (oh no...!).
A few other general points:
...
Good luck!