Artistic Vision and Craft

I define artistic vision as: the generating ideas for works of art; and craft as the power and technique to carry out the artistic vision. Much of our training as musicians consists of mastering the techniques and skills used to execute musical ideas. Less training is spent on the development of artistic vision. People who earn graduate degrees in music are not generally expected to do original research until they reach the doctoral level; even then, their topics of research are often suggested and always approved by their graduate advisers. Contrast that with the musical originality of the giants of music history: Machaut, Josquin, Monteverdi, Bach, Beethoven, Berlioz, Wagner, Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Ives, Parker, Cage, Ellington, Partch, Monk, Stockhausen, Xenakis, and Gaburo, some of whom were self-taught or didn’t earn graduate degrees. Many composers with advanced degrees have superior craft, but lack original vision. Many musical visionaries possess original artistic visions, but lack the technique to completely realize their ideas; they either limit their musical visions to match their technique--or else they eventually master the craft necessary to realize their visions.

The ideal, of course, is to develop an original vision and possess the craft to realize that vision. Vision and craft go hand in hand. I have sometimes been criticized by performers for composing music which is technically difficult if not impossible. Of course, the technique is necessary to realize my ideas completely and distinctly. If performers approach my music with a sincere desire to understand the artistic vision, and they dedicate themselves to realizing that vision, the technical mastery follows naturally. Good musicians who work hard make great performances with an intensity which is excellent and rare.