Lectures

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  1. Foundations of Composition

  

  In our introductory lecture, composer Samuel Andreyev delves into the core tools and techniques of musical composition, showing that meaningful music can emerge from minimal materials when guided by clear expressive intent. He illustrates how simple musical ideas can be transformed through rhythm, texture, and variation, emphasizing that creativity often thrives within constraints. Through examples, Andreyev demonstrates how structural repetition helps listeners grasp the work, while both external and self-imposed limits fuel inventive, focused, and compelling compositions.

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  2. Building Melody

  

  In lecture two, we explore the fundamental principles of melodic construction, using simple examples like "Mary Had a Little Lamb" to demonstrate how melodies employ structural elements such as range, phrase structure, cadences, and repetition to create coherent musical narratives. We examine how melody functions as an extension of speech patterns and analyze how composers strategically place highest and lowest notes to create dramatic arcs within limited ranges. The discussion extends to more complex examples like Brahms' Intermezzo, revealing how the same basic principles apply across different levels of musical sophistication.

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  3. Shaping Harmony

  

  In lecture three, we study harmony as a core element of music, examining how it creates movement and contributes to musical expression. We delve into the structure of chords, beginning with the C major triad and its relationship to the harmonic series, while exploring various transformations including inversions, voicings, spacing, doubling, and extensions. Andreyev emphasizes the importance of experimenting with different chord presentations to develop a personal sonic signature, distinguishing between mere chord successions and meaningful chord progressions that create a sense of musical direction.

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