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/lp/duke-university-press/the-art-of-musical-creation-w2snHfBGwt
- Copyright
- Copyright © 1992 by Duke University Press
- ISSN
- 1043-9455
- eISSN
- 2640-9879
- DOI
- 10.1215/10439455-6.2.81
- Publisher site
- See Article on Publisher Site
Abstract
The Art of Musical Creation Recently a discussion arose concerning the art of musical creation. A statement made by me to the effect that musical creation is almost entirely a subjective process was contested, and strong arguments were advanced by the person who sought to prove it an objective process. It must, of course, be admitted that there are composers whose works are products of the objective, or conscious mind. These are they whose creative efforts are governed by mathematical formulae; or those who impose upon themselves the limitations of specially devised scales, etc., or those whose efforts are directed toward the production of sound rather than the production of music. Creations of this sort, being objective, have no aesthetic value. Man's higher, or spiritual self, fails to respond even slightly to them, for they are void of life and cannot speak the language of the soul. It is my purpose now to tell you of the methods I employ in com posing, not that I regard them as models of excellence, but in order to explain to you why I am convinced that musical composition is mainly a subjective process. The first step in the building of the
Journal
Black Sacred Music – Duke University Press
Published: Sep 1, 1992