What Is a Cantus Firmus? (and How to Write One)
This compositional form and tool was used emblematically throughout the Middle Ages, here’s how it works and how to write one.
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The Well-Tempered Clavier at 300
An audit of where one of Bach’s most important works, his 1722 Well-Tempered Clavier, stands after three centuries of influence.
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Bach and Bitcoin
A dramatic slice of musical history that touches on counterpoint wars and private dabbles in alchemy, the Bitcoin of the 18th century.
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Bach’s Worldview Was Way Different from Ours – On “Musical Theology”
In Bach’s pre-Enlightenment time, understanding how and why he composed his music might lead contemporary composers to new and exciting areas. Learn more.
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Teaching Myself the Bach Chaconne With Ableton Live
From a South American dance to a romantically rubato performance piece, Bach’s Violin Partita in D minor has some funky rhythms and bizarre chromaticism!
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How Jonny Greenwood Uses Materiality, Clusters, and Aleatoricism in His Film Music
We break down a handful of composer Jonny Greenwood’s go-to techniques in examples from his scores to Phantom Thread and There Will Be Blood.
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Bach Wrote a Mini Comic “Opera” About His Love for Coffee in 1735
Bach’s Ode to Java Rocket fuel. Joe. Jitter Juice. These are just some of the nicknames we’ve given to one of the world’s most favorite drinks: coffee. It’s no surprise that artists over the years have been compelled to pay homage to the great brown muse; Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and even blues legend Mississippi John…
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Finish What You Started! Using Cadences in Composition (Video)
Though it may seem daunting from afar, venturing into the world of music theory doesn’t require an IQ of 160 or even a teacher in a classroom. In fact, just a little familiarity with some key harmonic concepts can provide any composer, producer, or songwriter with the tools to create more emotionally impactful music. And…
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Remember the Rounds We Sang as Kids? They’re Actually ‘Canons,’ and Canons are Awesome
A canon (or round) is a single melody line that provides a counterpoint to itself. Canons can, at times, feel lighthearted and happy go lucky (“Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or “Frere Jacques” for example), but even the simplest sounding pieces require careful attention and are difficult to craft well, especially where more than two voices are…
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President Obama’s Hit Playlist and Using Music to Cope with the Madness of Politics
For the last three months I’ve been doing something I rarely do: watching the news. Not only have I watched the news, but I’ve watched on a semi-regular basis. This is a huge step for someone who admittedly keeps abreast of world events through his Facebook timeline. However, after a self-imposed exile from mainstream television…
