St. Martin's Chamber Choir

Composers Forum

Question #9 - What are the easiest aspects for you of writing a composition?

MSB - M. Susan Brown;   SH - Steve Hahn;   TK - Tim Krueger;   TS - Terry Schlenker

 
MSB - I’m not sure; this, too, depends on the piece. Sometimes I think it is the voice leading, but then I realize that that isn’t easy at all.

SH - What’s easiest for me is developing a motif; once I hear that, I’m off to the races. My CD sh, for example, is based entirely on a very few simple motifs. Everything is put together compositionally from different permutations or combinations of those motifs.

TK - Perhaps the easiest thing is choosing a text. (laughs) But nothing is really easy. Composing does not come naturally for me. That is why I say that necessity is my muse. I have to be forced, for one reason or another, to sit down and address the project. 

TS - I really wouldn’t qualify any aspect of it as difficult or easy; I find it to be a very joyful part of my life in general.

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