So what does it take to compose a piece of music for a woodwind ensemble? I took a song with the feel of a traditional show tune and arranged it for flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon. It was a lot of fun.
Atonal music has no key and does not conform to Western musical traditions. For most composers, to create atonal music is like starting again. This post shares my first baby steps.
Call me a Philistine, but I find the music of the baroque and classical periods a little too formulaic and, frankly, boring. For a rationalist, I'm a romantic when it comes to music, so I'm hoping my second piece for string quartet reflects that.
In the 2020s you hardly ever hear a piece of music that does not have four beats in the bar. But varying the time signature can put all sorts of ideas into play.
If you come up with a great riff, you're well on the way to creating a great song. Riffs had their heyday in the 60s and 70s but they're certainly relevant today.