Hello. My name is George Marshall and I am the founder of Any Old Music. I am a composer with over 10-years of experience, having completed work on 50+ projects for video-games, films and the concert hall. In 2020, I completed my doctorate in Music Composition. My PhD was on constraint and how it emerges in creative projects. For example, team discussions in video-game projects. If a video-game team presented a mood-board and certain briefs, these constrain and challenge the composer to compose in a particular way or style. Less quantifiable than, say, the application of serialism, but probably just as (if not more) constraining and creatively directing. It was during my PhD that I realised that there would only be two outcomes for me as a composer: I became a professional composer who needed to compose lots of music in not enough time. I became an amateur/hobbyist or semi-professional composer who needed to compose less music but still with not enough time. With this in mind I eventually opted for something more along the lines of semi-professional, but with an ambition of setting up Any Old Music as a means of helping similarly time strapped music makers. Particularly those in the second group, the hobbyists and semi-professionals, whose composing competes much more for time against other aspects of life. Composition is incredibly rewarding. You never stop learning and developing as a composer. Furthermore, many of us boast renegade autodidactic personalities to a certain extent. My hope is that Any Old Music’s self-paced composition courses can help composers to continue growing, by learning through creating and doing so in their own time.
Term of the Week: Rhapsody
Term of the Week: RhapsodyFrom Any Old MusicA rhapsody is a musical composition that is often expressive and free-flowing in nature. It typically features melodies that draw upon folk music or other cultural traditions. The term "rhapsody" comes from the Greek word "rhaptein," which means to stitch together, and this is an apt description of how a rhapsody is constructed. Rather than following a strict form or structure, a rhapsody allows the composer to freely weave together different musical elements in a way that creates a cohesive and powerful whole. Some famous examples of rhapsodies include Franz Liszt's " Hungarian Rhapsodies" and George Gershwin's " Rhapsody in Blue." Did you like this week's term, if so, let me know by clicking here . Or, if you have an interesting term, let me know by simply replying to this email! |
New, Exclusive and Highlighted ContentHopefully you picked it up last week, but if not, here is another link to the Orchestral Instrument Ranges and Registers PDF printable wall chart I created. The register annotations are based on Samuel Adler's descriptions of instrument ranges and registers. I also try to pick out, where relevant, the "best" register of each instrument. However, what is best is all contextual! I'll probably try and explain myself in the coming weeks! Maybe... haha! Don't forget about the exclusive content you gain access to as an Any Old Music newsletter subscriber:
What's cooking?Introduction to Orchestration is nearly here.As you're probably aware, I've been working hard on Introduction to Orchestration, an online lecture series that will take place on Zoom every week for several weeks. (Approximately 8 weeks.) I am planning to release a video this Friday. It will begin the countdown to the launch date. I'm knackered, but excited. I hope you'll join me for it. Any questions or comments, please get in touch! All the best, George P.S. Don't forget that free wall chart. |
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Any Old Music
Hello. My name is George Marshall and I am the founder of Any Old Music. I am a composer with over 10-years of experience, having completed work on 50+ projects for video-games, films and the concert hall. In 2020, I completed my doctorate in Music Composition. My PhD was on constraint and how it emerges in creative projects. For example, team discussions in video-game projects. If a video-game team presented a mood-board and certain briefs, these constrain and challenge the composer to compose in a particular way or style. Less quantifiable than, say, the application of serialism, but probably just as (if not more) constraining and creatively directing. It was during my PhD that I realised that there would only be two outcomes for me as a composer: I became a professional composer who needed to compose lots of music in not enough time. I became an amateur/hobbyist or semi-professional composer who needed to compose less music but still with not enough time. With this in mind I eventually opted for something more along the lines of semi-professional, but with an ambition of setting up Any Old Music as a means of helping similarly time strapped music makers. Particularly those in the second group, the hobbyists and semi-professionals, whose composing competes much more for time against other aspects of life. Composition is incredibly rewarding. You never stop learning and developing as a composer. Furthermore, many of us boast renegade autodidactic personalities to a certain extent. My hope is that Any Old Music’s self-paced composition courses can help composers to continue growing, by learning through creating and doing so in their own time.
Hello Reader, I hope you're doing well! It's George from Any Old Music, and I’m excited to share that the first day of 30 Days of Counterpoint is now available as a free preview. If you're interested in counterpoint, especially at a beginner or intermediate level, feel free to dive into the first day’s content. Here’s what you’ll find: Day 1's Video Lesson: Foundations of (1st Species) Counterpoint Lesson Quiz: Test your understanding of the first lesson Skills Quiz: Focused on interval...
Hello Reader, I'm thrilled to invite you to this week's episode of Breaking Down Morning Mood, where we'll dive into a score annotation of Grieg's "Morning Mood" (link to score video, YouTube) from his Peer Gynt Suite No. 1. Get ready for an exciting exploration of this musical gem! Here's what we'll cover in the video: Uber quick recap of last week's preliminary episode where we gathered resources and background information to set the stage. Simple prepping of the score, ready for...
Starting today, we're embarking on a new approach to provide you with practical and engaging music composition lessons and insights. Say goodbye to the "Term of the Week" newsletter. Instead, I'll be sharing in-depth analyses of compositions, meticulously breaking them down to provide you with insightful observations. Don't worry, I'll keep them concise and free from excessive images and links, making them perfect for your Monday work break or an evening read. I understand that this shift may...