Dear folks,
Just to weigh in on this. First, I use "measure" and "bar" pretty
much interchangeably.
I know that composers don't always see eye to eye with theorists -
that is, theory on the graduate level. I was involved equally with
both theory and composition throughout my university studies. My
first college-level job was teaching both theory and composition. As
the years went by, I had a larger and larger number of composition
students and finally became chair of the composition department at
the University of Oregon. Our composition majors have secured
position in a number of areas. Some are university profs, teaching
both theory and composition. Others are working with film music.
Others are arrangers or jazz musicians. Some went into music
technology. Others continue to compose but have "day jobs" outside of
music.
Hal Owen
At 7:35 PM +0200 5/16/07, shirling & neueweise wrote:
every music department needs theory teachers, and nobody can earn
a living as a composer without selling out and writing music
people actually like!!
i won't mention how utterly ridiculous, condescending, ignorant,
reactionary and simplistic i find this comment,
You are, of course, perfectly entitled to your opinion, as I am to
mine, but I do believe that through most of the 20th century that
has been the attitude in university composition departments--some,
of course, probably not all, but according to the stories told by
folks on Orchestralist some of the most prestigious.
but will point out that it also happens that people study
composition to get university positions; i spoke once with a uni
prof who was sad to see that many of his master's and PhD students
weren't really interested in composition. in fact one of his PhD
students at the time had actually told him he was studying
composition to get a comfortable job in a university.
Oh sure. No question. But if our small department is any measure,
there is need for more theory teachers than composition teachers,
since ALL music majors and minors must take theory courses, but not
all take composition courses.
And at the risk of once again rubbing you the wrong way, I have to
ask whether it's healthy to perpetuate a culture of disconnect with
one's potential audiences just because it's "comfortable." But then
when I arrange or (occasionally) compose, it's always for immediate
performance by people I know, and not for either publication or
posterity. It worked well enough for Bach and Mozart!!
John
--
John & Susie Howell
Virginia Tech Department of Music
Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A 24061-0240
Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034
(mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED])
http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html
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--
Harold Owen
1375 Olive Street #402, Eugene, OR 97401
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Visit my web site at:
http://uoregon.edu/~hjowen/
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