ABSTRACT
An ability to compose in various styles has long been upheld as part of a composer's training. The availability of styles to choose from has never seemed more rich and diverse as at present. The palette is tantalizing for as many composers as it is bewildering for others. Nowhere is this richness and diversity more in evidence than with the voice. The difficulty and time required for a composer to absorb information from the sea of stylistic possibilities available should not be underestimated. There is often a further expectation that the composer will be able to create his or her own unique and original style. This chapter attempts to present some of the dangers and attractions to the composer on such a path.
