Group 6

October 6, 2010

Report
Where Music Composition and STS Meet
Views of the University of the Philippines Diliman Community towards Music
Composition
People from different backgrounds (including security guards, restaurant
waiters, sidewalk vendors, and non-music majors and professors) have different
perceptions toward musical composers and music composition.
Generally, all of our respondents believe that musical composers live normal
lives by using their everyday experiences as inspirations to make music. They think
that musical composers are usually observant of things that happen around them. To
add to that, they view most of them as quiet and introverts, but there are also some
exceptions that would rather be the center of attention than just be mere observers.
They deem musical compositions affect our society in a way that they make it
easier for us to comprehend whatever issues are present in our current situation.
Music is a subtle and artistic way of expressing our deepest thoughts, and it is
essential to humanity since through it, we convey our feelings toward society's
condition.
Science behind Music Composition through the Lenses of the Experts
According to Professor Jonas Baes, Chair of the Department of Theory and
Composition at the College of Music of UP Diliman, he is not conscious that there is
Science behind Music whenever he writes a musical piece; however, he is aware that
Science is present in composing a piece. He even agrees that Science is everywhere,
including Music.
On the other hand, Prof. Christine Muyco, one of the faculty members from
the same department, said that Science exists in Music in the forms of pitch, tone,
length of waves, precision and timing. These are elements that have great importance
in writing a piece. Another manifestation of Science in music composition is notation
or the process writing symbols that represent sounds.
Evolution of Music Composition
The oldest "written" music composition was composed of cuneiform-like
figures etched on a stone tablet, dating to around 2000 BC. Ancient musical
instruments include flutes made of bone and rudimentary drums. Nowadays, "ancient"

musical style is only approximated and only stem from cultural historical knowledge.
Writing and composing music has been greatly affected with the advent of
these new technologies. Musical compositions can now be done in personal
computers and even in handheld devices such as cellular phones and mp3 players
(iTouch and iPad). Editing of music has also been made easier by various software
programs that enable the composer to alter voices, superimpose one musical tune to
another, and produce new kinds of sounds and so much more.
In addition, Erwin Fajardo, one of the graduate students from the College of
Music, enumerated the high-tech devices and machines which help composers in
composing, sequencing and mixing.
Reactions of the Experts
Prof. Muyco thinks that technology has helped composers in many ways. An
example is, writing notes in a piece of paper would be difficult in the past. But, now,
computers can write it for anyone. It is easier and faster compared in the past, she
added.
Despite making composition easier and faster, Prof. Baes shared one
disadvantage of high technology in relation to composition. He said that technology
limits the imagination of a composer. One of his examples where he thinks technology
restraints the composers imaginations is the program named Finale Music
Composing and Notation Software. He said that, like the said program, many
softwares allow the user to try and compose something out of nothing without even
exerting much effort. One would become limited and would not want to explore and
think outside of the box anymore. Nevertheless, he also believes that music
composition generally is easier with the help of technology.

Influence of Music Composition to Society and Vice Versa

Prof. Baes does not solely base his musical pieces on the needs and wants of
society. He believed that, if a musical composer does this, there would be no growth
in the form of Music. In spite of that, he bases his composition from what he observes
in society. One story that he shared was when he went to a village in Zambales and
showed the people there his self-made musical instrument constructed from a piece of
wooden block, where strings are attached to the hammered nails. This creates sounds
whenever the nails collide with each other. After the presentation, a group of people
approached and asked him if they could keep the instrument. He said yes. Yet, he was

curious why they would want to take home these nails. The villagers reason was they
would use the nails to repair their boats (because some people shot the boats) while
they were fishing. Prof. Baes is still amazed on how his music indirectly helped the
people from that village.
Music Composition, Science, Society, and Technology
Prof. Baes concluded that Music Composition, Science, Society, and
Technology are connected with each other. However, if someone tries to connect
them, the connection would be lost. This is where the beauty of music composition
comes. These four are interrelated as if it is governed and guided by an invisible hand,
but, if anyone tries to relate the four, the invisible hand would be broken.