Expert: Donald - 1/11/2007

Question
i was also wondering if i can do the same to learn how to write a fugue or learn more about serial/twelve tone music and minimalisitic music. i've been getting more interested in those styles.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

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i live in new jersey and was wondering if you wouldn't happen to know if there were any really good teachers on counterpoint, composition and chord theory.
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Hi Guy,

I am so excited that you are interested in pursuing music theory! If you choose to apply yourself with a good teacher, then you will grow quickly as a musician.

Your best bet might be to contact a local college with a good music department and see if any of the graduate students would like to make some extra money. Often, you will find excellent instruction from those students, because their own knowledge is so fresh. They would also have some great resources for you to explore.

There are also many sites online that can help you. Depending on what you are looking for, any specific search criteria such as "16th century counterpoint" should help you find the basics. Some of this you can do on your own just fine. The link

http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

will take you to a free choral music site where you can find a downloadable sightreading manual. Ear training is also an important component of theory.

I wish that I lived close enough to help you, but I hope that this answer will at least point you in a profitable direction.

Good luck as you hone your theory/comp skills!

Best regards,

Donald

Answer
Hi Guy,

Ah, the fugue! This imitative form has some very specific rules. You will want to look at Bach's examples of this form. You might also want to look at Mozart's and Beethoven's use of fugal ideas in their writing (the Mozart Requiem has some nice examples of imitative ideas drawn from Bach's time...) As far as specific instruction, I'm sure that you could go to Google or Yahoo and type in "fugue composition" and find some help. There are also many theory books that explain the art of writing a fugue. You will learn about subjects, answers, and episodes, and the many variations that encompass each one of these.

In regard to serial composition, including twelve tone music, post tonal pitch set class analysis, and minimalism, you should look at the book, "Post Tonal Music". It is a complicated text, but it might give you some insight into the many modes of post tonal composition. There are also many sites on the internet that have twelve tone row generators, pitch wheels, and other compositional helps for this style of music. Feel free to contact me again if you run into questions about serial composition.

Best regards,

Donald