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Conference mr1pst::music

Title:MUSIC V4
Notice:New Noters please read Note 1.*, Mod = someone else
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Wed Oct 09 1991
Last Modified:Tue Mar 12 1996
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:762
Total number of notes:18706

18.0. "Music Theory: Comments and Questions" by WRKSYS::MARKEY (Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging) Wed Oct 09 1991 17:39

    
    This note is for questions and discussions relating to music theory
    ("what *is* that chord anyway?"). Suitable topics include harmony,
    rhythm and melodic structure.
    
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18.1what's make a hit ?HGRD01::STEVELIUMon Oct 04 1993 05:3852
    
    what's make a musical composition tuneful ? why some compositions
    can become hits and others with no one to bother or simply boring ?
    
    I understand this is a very difficult question because if one knows
    the secret or the right formula, one could have become a renown
    composer as well but I do think that someone should be able to comment 
    on some aspects of the musical composition process which could lead to 
    great masterpieces or somethings come close to it.
     
    I think one should start with some basic melodic lines or themes and 
    continue to develop these themes using various technique such as 
    variations and recapitulation etc. Next is to decide the appropiateness
    of key so as to convey the mood of your themes and its development.
    Furtherdown your composition, you have to decide your tempo for
    the various movements of your piece. The selected rhythm will set the 
    momentum and overall feel of your composition. 
    I think when we talk about harmony we are in fact solving the problem of 
    how to joint the various themes and its developments together so that
    the joints are seamless and make the entire piece coherent as a whole.
    
    I must say I have actually simplified the complication of musical
    composition a lot so that I can express in a way that I can
    understand. Perhaps or at least someone can correct me and enlighten
    me.
    
    Let's go back to the original question of what make a piece a hit ?
    I think one cannot sustan a hit by just inventing a melody.
    A melodic theme still needs some sort of repetitions and development
    putting the theme into context before the human mind can appreciate
    and recognise it as a hit.
    
    I hope I can hear from you on your views concerning
    melody/rhythm/harmony/tonality.
    
    Liu