Paul Morley: How to be a Composer on BBC4
There have been several reality TV programmes that have tried to 'de-mystify' classical music, but How to be a Composer (on BBC4, episode 1 this Saturday, episode 2 on Sunday) has the potential to be the most interesting, partly because it's the least gimmicky, and partly because it features a really interesting music journalist, Paul Morley, who wants to use notated composition creatively, not just find out about the classical canon.
Morley is a journalist who has written for NME and now writes columns for the Observer. He knows a huge amount about innovative music across a range of genres, but says he knows nothing about musical technique. The programme follows him as he goes back into formal education for the first time since he left school and enrols for a year's study in Composition at the Royal Academy of Music.
He's already written pieces for the Observer about his time learning to be a composer (Observer Music Monthly and Showing Off with Paul Morley). I think the OMM piece is a fascinating read, whether you're an experienced composer or have never thought about it before in your life - I hope the TV programme hits the same heights!
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I watched this last night
I watched this last night and really liked the way he went about it- he was really quite humble. It also shows quite how much of a barrier there is around the classical world and how inpenetrable it can seem to the outsider. There was a really nice quote about how modern composers have to create something new that would stand up against "the greats" and how musch pressure that puts on them.
It was also nice to see people I know on TV. Not sure why there was quite so much musical theatre footage though