things of musical note

  • creative by constraint

    creative by constraint

    This post argues that creativity is afforded by the constraints notation places on a musical practice, because imaginative freedom comes by the exploration of a musical space to which an instrumentalist’s own practice may not have led.

  • william sweeney

    william sweeney

    A short introduction to the notational approaches of Scottish composer William Sweeney.

  • the creative gap

    the creative gap

    The process that occurs between musical notation and its sonic realisation is often negatively described as an inexplicable ‘gap’. However, I argue that this ‘gap’ affords creativity in notated music.