We were given the marks for the first piece of my masters coursework today. I got 72 for a set of six compositional studies we had to produce. That's distinction level, so I'm quite happy. A good place to start. I've been questioning my place within music lately. I'm wondering if my constant drive to be unique is stifling my output. But at the same time, I don't see the point in making music that someone else has already done in a better way. There's always the danger that composition can devolve into a type of 'paint by numbers' approach if one isn't conscientious. On the other hand, I'm wary of becoming too esoteric. As much as I strive to be different, I don't want to get to a point where only other academics appreciate my work. I find the challenge of making a difficult concept more easy to digest enthralling. But it's a hard process and sometimes I feel like I get too caught up in trying to pinpoint what said concepts could be.
I think there is value in the emulation of other composers, if only for purely educational purposes. This came up in my medieval and baroque history class, actually, as it was one of the ways in which composers of that time learned their trade. Bach thoroughly studied Vivaldi, for example, to learn the Italian style. In my view, the value comes from artistic freedom. You never have to compose any one way, but if you learn to compose in many different ways and styles, then you have a gigantic toolbox at your disposal. As one of my bass teachers once said to me "technique will set you free" Or, alternatively, "you'll never be held back by too much technique." You've got the musicality, otherwise you wouldn't be in music school.
For sure, I totally agree. A lot of my compositional ideas start out as an emulation of a musical idea I heard. Then of course I'll take that and mould it into something of my own. I am very much an advocate of finding patterns between genres and artists in search of new perspectives. I am aware of my influences and embrace them. Good words. I've always felt this way about listening to music, that by having a wide range influences you have a lot to draw on. However, I've not properly considered that in terms of compositional practice. I feel this is perhaps impeding me at the moment, in that I've become stuck in my ways. I was producing steadfast in the Drum & Bass tradition for 4 years and only in the last year of two have I endeavoured to push some boundaries somewhat. As a consequence, all my ideas are still filtered through the said tradition and methodology which is becoming too small a garment, so to speak. I'm ready to break of out if it, I'm just not sure how quite yet. Thanks.You never have to compose any one way, but if you learn to compose in many different ways and styles, then you have a gigantic toolbox at your disposal.
I support what coffeesp00ns said and add in one more thing. It is hard to invent something completely new. You always begin from something that is already known and go a step further. Sometimes going a step further means combining things that are already known. But to be able to do that, you need to master the things that are already known because then the act of "going a step further" will come to you more naturally :)
Whenever someone says "I have no influences", one of two things is occurring: - they are lying - they are ignorant of their own influence.