Tools of a 21st century composer
By Tony K.T. Leung
Updated: April, 2000
Time is a
precious resource. As a citizen of the 21st century, I have at my disposal time
saving tools that composers even a generation ago did not have. If something can save me
time, I will seriously consider it. Saving time allow me more time with the family and to
pursue other activities. Besides, composing or preparing scores all the time is the
fastest way I know to insanity.
The biggest component of time spent while composing is score preparation. Deadlines are always tight, so I have to practice just-in-time production techniques. Using a computer for notation is a given. It saves times during part preparation and making changes.
After the piece is entered into the computer, the next step is to print it out. Over the years, I have tried several types of printers. In the past, I would print out one good single sided copy, and then take it to the Canadian Music Centre to have copies made and bound. They do a good job, but the turnaround time is a few days. It is possible to take the job to a local photocopy shop but they are not familiar or always equipped to produce large size scores. If I can print and bind the scores myself, then I would be totally independent.
I am finally equipped to produce scores from start to finish without leaving my studio!
Instruments
To
audition a score, I use Emu Proteus 2000 synthesizer. It can produce 128 voices
simultaneously, triggered via 32 MIDI channels.
Besides playing on my cello and Steinway grand, I am experimenting with a few new instruments.
Score preparation
Notation
software is central to my compositional process. I don’t use notation software as a
typesetting tool after a piece is composed. Rather, the notation software becomes my
scratch pad and manuscript paper as I compose. To audition the work in progress, an
electronic music synthesizer is vital.
I started composing in 1989. The only piece that I wrote without using a computer was the first one. Over the years, I have gone through several notation programs. My computing platform is DOS/Windows:
- Personal Composer
- Music Printer Plus
- Encore
- Finale
- Sibelius
For new projects, I am using Sibelius.
Printing
The photocopier is one of the greatest inventions and it is great for
composers, but a photocopier is not necessary if a laser printer can print double sided on
large paper.
I use the Minolta PageWorks 20 with the duplex unit. It can print on both sides of 11X17 inch paper, and it is not too expensive.
Binding
I use a Renz R-31 wire-o manual binding machine. Its ends are open so that
scores longer than 11 inches can be bound.
Promotion
The Internet has already changed the way promotion is done. Before the World Wide Web (pre-1994), it was difficult to find out about performance opportunities in a timely fashion. Now, I am a lot more aware of events happening. You would not be reading this without the web.
Using
streaming audio such as RealAudio, I can introduce my music to anyone who cares to listen.
Delivery
With couriers
nowadays, paper scores can be sent almost anywhere in the world within a few business
days.
Scores can also
distributed electronically and sold through the Internet. Adobe Acrobat is excellent for
distributing online sheet music. The Acrobat reader software can be downloaded free. My
scores can be downloaded and bought online through ArcoSound
© Copyright 1999-2000 Tony K.T. Leung. All rights reserved.