minstrel: Wah! Composer's block!

[Tadhg O Cuileannain]

--- Tadhg O Cuileannain <tadhg at flash.net> wrote:
> Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2004 12:18:26 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Tadhg O Cuileannain <tadhg at flash.net>
> Subject: Re: minstrel: Wah!  Composer's block!
> To: Averil White <mekilno at yahoo.co.uk>
> 
> I don't know that there's any simple answer.  If
> your
> melodies are all sounding the same, part of the
> problem may be that all your lyrics are using the
> same
> metrical scheme so you fall into a rut.  Try
> something
> different--trochees or anapests instead of iambs,
> different line lengths, etc. (study how it was done
> in
> period--the relationship between poetic and musical
> form in the middle ages was quite complex and
> subtle,
> much more so than what we're used to.  There are
> many
> medieval song structures, and they are quite
> different
> from the standard modern ones).
> 
> Set a framework for the melody before composing--for
> instance, decide in advance that you're going to
> work
> in a particular mode that you've never used before,
> or
> that you're going to use only five notes for the
> whole
> song.  Composers set themselves these kinds of
> puzzles
> all the time as a way of breaking out of habitual
> patterns.
> 
> Or you can simply steal (a period melody, not a
> modern
> copyrighted one, of course).  Take a bit of
> Gregorian
> chant and set it to your words, adjusting the rhythm
> to fit your meter.  This is a very period thing to
> do,
> actually.  If it feels too unoriginal, turn the
> borrowed melody upside down or play it backwards,
> and
> let your intuition make any adjustments that feel
> right.
> 
> Good luck,
> 
> Tadhg
> 
> --- Averil White <mekilno at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> > OK, I'm stuck.  How do you go about puting
> melodies
> > to songs?  So far I'm not doing too badly, I've
> put
> > melodies to a couple of songs, but now they all
> > sound similar!  I need advice on how to go about
> > putting melodies to words...
> >  
> > Everild
> 
> 
> =====
> *********************************************
> Tadhg O Cuilleannain of One Thousand Eyes
> Tim Connor of Idaho Falls, Idaho
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> Gules, a harp, and in chief three doves volant,
> argent
> *********************************************
> 


=====
*********************************************
Tadhg O Cuilleannain of One Thousand Eyes
Tim Connor of Idaho Falls, Idaho
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Gules, a harp, and in chief three doves volant, argent
*********************************************