* Stating the facts about Back to Composition...... which Rick Massey said to 
All on 07-05-96  08:30 *
 RM> A composer writes something to elicit a specific feeling, mood, or
 RM> atmosphere. 
	I agree.
 RM> So, here's the big question- Who do you compose for? Is it for
 RM> worldwide distribution? A select group of friends? To blow away other
 RM> musicians? Or is ita masturbatory exercise? 
	I have a couple of answers for that question.  I compose and I perform.
When I compose I usually compose for myself (and god).  I compose by just 
playing the piano (sort of a form of improvising) until I get a tune that I 
like what I hear and develop it.
	My composition has landed me on the stage a couple of times but it is
more becuase other people such as my parents, friends and teachers want to 
ee
me there and was never and will never be the intent of my composition. (but 
t
is nice to know people enjoy what you write although it was never for them)
 RM> By defining your audience, you define your tools. If you're working
 RM> for mass appeal, chances are strict serialism and twelve tone aren't
 RM> going to work very well, and it better have a melody. 
 I agree.
 RM>Musicians and
 RM> Jazz audiences will get off onartful uses of rhythm and chord changes,
 RM> while Prog rock fans and people in eastern Europe will want to hear
 RM> changes in time and very very complex rhythmicpatterns.
	It just depends on the personal taste.  I find once you've astablished
yourself you'll give the aduience what you want because if you write what you 
like, odds are you're on the same wave length.
 RM> And it seems that often is question doesn't get asked at all.
 RM> Composers hide behind the vast artistic umbrella of "Music Comp" and
 RM> just write, when the first question should be "Who is this for?"
	It's sort of what I do.  It's for themselves (own satifaction) or 
possible close friends are included in that.
 RM> Music is communication, first and foremost. How do you communicate,
 RM> and with whom?
	I've been composing music for about 1 year.  I started off just for my
own satifaction but I may move to include an audience in that but I will 
always
be happy with what I write.  If other people like what I write that's great 
but
I couldn't care less if people didn't.  I find if you let you're audience 
ditate
what you want, It's not a true communication of yourself and it leaves 
unsatified with what you did even if people love it.
 RM> Comments? Observations?
	Composing is like a really big hobby for me it just happens that people
really enjoy the outcome of it.  The same way people admire a gardener for a 
really good garden although it is just a small hobby of there own.
                                   TTYL
                              Peter Houghton
                       
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30 [NR]
--- QScan/PCB v1.19b / 01-0639
---------------