ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the role and practice of the composer. It begins with an examination of the key question: why compose? It goes on to consider the compositional process in all its aspects. This begins with aural imagination, which remains important even within a musical practice that works directly with sound. It goes on to discuss: intention and result; freedom and constraint; the question of originality; form and structure; mods and modalities. It makes a special consideration of collaborative composition and its implications. It includes comments on composition from the case study musicians. It offers some critical questions as food for thought. It provides three creative projects for practical work in class, and a list of recommended further readings and suggested listening.
