Customer Reviews

Techniques of Twentieth Century Composition: A Guide to the Materials of Modern Music (Music Series)

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For students that are looking for having a general view on the techniques employed by composers from the beginning of our century this book will represent a good guide. However, its brief explanations and examples about each procedure/technique is just an appetizer for future depth analysis of the mentioned composers/works.

I consider this book to be valuable for beginning composition students because its examples constitute a useful and varied sampling of early to middle 20th century composers and techniques. Its explanations are readable and focus on musical values.

Dallin offers the student numerous pathways to depart from or expand upon common practice theory while maintaining coherence and expressivity. The important issues of developing ideas and creating cohesive forms are addressed in later chapters.

Along with a steady diet of score study and compositional exercises, this book can be a valuable tool for the student composer.

This is a well organized and well written book for both the student and the professional composer. The many examples and the direct, thoughtful writing are not only, to say the least, helpful... but also refreshing. As anyone who has read through various tomes on this subject knows, the majority of them are opaque; this is not because of how advanced the subject is but because the writing is so poor.

Well, don't worry. This book will make you happy!