Musical composition

As a composition (from the Latin componere, merge ') is called:

In general, it is a handed- work of a composer, which offers the possibility for repeated execution. Counter terms are

• Oral tradition: A musical work can not be traced back to one person, but is being carried on as common and is subject to sometimes change;
• Improvisation: music is created in the game process itself and is not intended for repeated execution ( however, is the fantasy own form of composition );
• Interpretation: A present as composition work will be performed by a single performer ( singer, musician ).

In earlier centuries the most current theory of composition was usually passed down from experienced composers in the teacher -student relationship. Today it is a mostly zehnsemestriges main field of study in European music academies.

Composition of "classical" music

Composition is mainly of the "classical" music (in the sense of art or classical music ) characteristic creative process. It refers to the invention of a musical work and the fixing thereof by the composer. The provisions taken by the composer, it is different depending on the exact parameters and also from plant to plant. In classical and romantic music, the pitches are precisely defined, the durations and thus resulting rhythm are precisely determined in relation to the basic tempo. So these can be described as primary parameters or composition categories. Although dynamics and articulation can also be prescribed a highly differentiated, but are not as the primary parameter in exact values ​​in the notation be represented and thus secondary parameter or composition categories. In this way, resulting voids are interpreted by the artist. This also applies to the pace, because there is no corresponding absolute tempo perception, the deviations from a prescribed pace (eg in beats per minute ) is actually interpreted as a deviation from the composition, as long as not the pace impression ( "fast", "moderate", "slow" ) changes. In the hand of the composer is also the choice of occupation and the instrumentation. With progressive differentiation of the symphonic orchestra, these were during the 19th and 20th century increasingly also the character of a composition category, where it is, however, mostly but upstream to one of the actual composition ( choice of occupation) or the downstream process ( Instrumentation).

The concentration of the musical creative process to the composer and thus to an individual is a key defining feature of classical music, which is determinative of its historical development. It is a prerequisite for the increasing since the 19th century veneration of the composer as a " genius " for the tradition of a growing canon of " masterpieces " and finally for the ever stricter separation and specialization of composer and performer.

Paradoxically, however, resulted in just these developments in the 20th century to a decreasing importance of the composer over the performer, as this may have recourse to the canon of generally accepted " masterpieces " to which the contemporary composer must compete. The term " Classical " that was increasingly used for the conversion of historically of traditional music in a current music scene and the interpreter was her real support. The composers found their niches just in from the historical material more and more distinctive Experiment ( which also affected the above-mentioned features of " composing " and sometimes questioned ), but so were relegated to specialized concert series and festivals. As a result, the audience in listeners of "classic" and "new" music has split. Since the sound recording in turn makes a " canon" to " master interpretations " over stock, the performers see today in a composer comparable situation, which leads to a stagnation of the entire " classical music ", of which is questionable whether they will it free can.

Composition in rock music and jazz

Outside of the " classical music " are composition and composer of relatively minor importance, since many traditional tasks of the composer to be done labor. So is merely referred to as composition, the melody and the harmonic framework of a piece in jazz in general, while the audible result the arrangement and improvisation an equally important share of ( a constellation, as in European art music until the middle of the Baroque era could occur ). Important composers of jazz such as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter are in accordance with their own shadow as performing musicians. Thus, the historical development of jazz by performing musicians and composers will not coined in contrast to the classical music.

In rock music composition, arrangement and performance are usually collective, never aufschlüsselbarer entirely in its detail process whose result is also intended only for presentation by their authors and not to the tradition of other performers who it in the " conventional" sense, therefore, also not here. Often in this case marks are required only in reduced form or not at all, when closely worked mainly with studio recordings, which may make the classical notation superfluous.

The different importance of composing in " U " and "E - music " sometimes leads to inconsistent standards in appreciative aesthetic comparison.