A piece of music exists in the form of a written composition in musical notation or as a single acoustic event (a live performance or recorded track). If composed before being performed, music can be performed from memory, through written musical notation, or through a combination of both. Compositions comprise musical elements, which vary widely from person to person and between cultures. Improvisation is the act of composing during the performance, assembling musical elements spontaneously.
Piece is a general, non-technical term applied mainly to instrumental compositions from the 17th century onwards. In vocal music the term is most frequently used for operatic ensembles.
Musical form
In discussing the structure or organization of a musical work, the composition of that work is generally called its musical form. These techniques draw a parallel to art's formal elements. Sometimes, the entire form of a piece is through-composed, meaning that each part is different, with no repetition of sections; other forms include strophic, rondo, verse-chorus, or other parts. Some pieces are composed around a set scale, where the compositional technique might be considered the usage of a particular scale. Others are composed during performance, where a variety of techniques are also sometimes used.
Important in tonal musical composition is the scale for the notes used, including the mode and tonic note. In music using twelve tone techniques, the tone row is even more comprehensive factor than a scale. Similarly, music of the Middle East employs compositions that are rigidly based on a specific mode (maqam) often within improvisational contexts, as does Indian classical music in both the Hindustani and the Carnatic systems, gamelans of Java and Bali, and much music in Africa.
Composing music
People who practice composition are called composers. Compositional techniques are the methods used to create music. Useful skills in composition include writing musical notation, instrumentation, and handling musical ensembles (orchestration). Other skills include extended techniques such as improvisation, musical montage, preparing instruments, using non-traditional instruments, and other methods of sound production.
Compositional instrumentation
The task of adapting a composition for musical instruments/ensembles, called arranging or orchestrating, may be undertaken by the composer or separately by an arranger based on the composer's core composition. A composition may have multiple arrangements based on such factors as intended audience type and breadth, musical genre or stylistic treatment, recorded or live performance considerations, available musicians and instruments, commercial goals and economic constraints.
Based on such factors, composers or arrangers must decide upon the instrumentation of the original work. Today, the contemporary composer can virtually write for almost any combination of instruments. Some common group settings include music for Full Orchestra (consisting of just about every instrument group), Wind Ensemble (or Concert Band, which consists of larger sections and greater diversity of wind, brass and percussion instruments than are usually found in the orchestra), or a chamber group (a small number of instruments, but at least two). The composer may also choose to write for only one instrument, in which case this is called a solo.
Composers are not limited to writing only for instruments, they may also decide to write for voice (including choral works, operas, and musicals) or percussion instruments or electronic instruments. Alternatively, as is the case with musique concrète, the composer can work with many sounds often not associated with the creation of music, such as typewriters, sirens, and so forth.
Vocabulary
spontaneously – ìèìîâîë³, ñïîíòàííî
à piece – òâ³ð
to undertake – ïåðåäïðèéíÿòè
breadth – øèðîòà, øèðèíà
constraint – òèñê, îáìåæåííÿ
virtually - ôàêòè÷íî
diversity – ð³çíîìàí³òí³ñòü
siren – ñèðåíà
and so forth – ³ òàê äàë³
Task 2. Choose the correct answer
1. What is important in tonal musical composition?
a. sounds b. pitch c. the scale d. timbre
2. The entire form of a piece is through-composed, meaning that each part is
a. the same b. different c. similar d. various
3. The tone row is even more comprehensive factor than a scale in music using
a. 8 tone technique b. 10 tone techniques c. 12 tone techniques d. 6 tone techniques
4. People who practice composition are called
a. singers b. dancers c. musicians d. composers
5. Arrangements are not based on such factors as
a. intended audience type b. musical genre or stylistic treatment c. commercial goals and economic constraints d. inability to play
Task 3. Put the questions to the underlined words:
a. Compositions comprise musical elements,which vary widely from person to person and between cultures.
b. Piece is a general, non-technical term applied mainly to instrumental compositions from the 17th century onwards.
Task 4. Answer the following questions:
1. How can music be performed?
2. What is improvisation?
3. What is piece?
4. What are pieces composed around?
5. What skills are required for composing music?
6. What possibilities has a modern composer got nowdays?
Task 5. Retell the text.