Christopher Tarrant, Natalie Wild

The Composer’s Toolkit

What makes a melody memorable? Why do some pieces seem to unfold perfectly, as if by design?

The Composer’s Toolkit uncovers the building blocks, or schemata, that shaped the music of Bach, Haydn, Mozart and their contemporaries and shows you how to use them in your own writing, in any musical style. Inside, you’ll find practical tools for writing expressive melodies, strong bass lines and phrases with real momentum. Learn how to choose forms that work, develop your ideas with effective textures and add rhythmic and melodic decoration. Clear, annotated models, step-by-step explanations and a wide variety of audio examples guide you through the entire compositional process. Also included is a guide for writing music to a brief and a catalogue of schemata. Ideal for A-level and undergraduate students, this book is the ultimate companion for using classical techniques to create compelling, well-crafted compositions. 

Christopher Tarrant is Lecturer in Music Analysis at Newcastle University. He received his PhD from Royal Holloway, University of London and now teaches and writes about concert music of the long nineteenth century with a special emphasis on theory of form and the Nordic symphony. Christopher is also a violinist and conductor.

Natalie Wild is Director of Research and Deputy Director of Music at the Music in Secondary Schools Trust (MiSST). Her research focuses on the role a classical music education can play in breaking down social barriers. Natalie has taught both GCSE and A-Level Music for many years as Head of Music invarious inner-city schools.