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RE: Big Yes for Formulaic Writing
hi folks,
>You use the example of students of music looking at the structure
>of the compositions of real composers.
yup, it's still troublesome to use the classical music analogy. gotta
remember the cultural context for the development of classical music's
"rules."
Then, some composers (in various periods, more in Romantic and later) would
intentionally shoot holes in those rules or somehow set them aside.
Schubert's "Erlkoenig" does not follow such formulas, but is instead
"durchkomponiert" (trans. "through-composed"). And don't forget Ravel's
"Bolero", written on a bet (supposedly) that he could develop a theme using
nothing but repetition and slight changes in orchestration. We have seen
"durchkomponiert" writings from both students and pros, and they are quite
satisfying; we call them "stream of consciousness". But I shudder to
picture a piece of writing analogous in form to "bolero." "Yes! I
know! You already said that!"
And, now that I think of it, some of John Cage's music composing practices
(e.g. putting score paper in a bird cage, and then playing the poop) seem
frighteningly close to that of inexperienced, scared, disaffected, grumpy
writing students.
Still, art students are encouraged and drilled in anatomically correct life
drawing, which supposedly gives them "license" to then go and do something
non-representational.
james w
it's not often i get to say "durchkomponiert" in casual conversation.
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Dr. James Werchan
(or maybe it's just someone who kinda looks a lot like him)
Ohio State University at Lima
4240 Campus Drive
Reed Hall #135
Lima, OH 45804
419-995-8882
werchan.1@osu.edu
Come and visit: "http://www.lima.ohio-state.edu/~wacc"
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