Creativity in Composition and Improvisation

Abstract

Composition and improvisation are two forms of musical creation. Although they are different, they share a number of characteristic features. We are not going to claim their equivalence or even essential identity. But we shall focus on the aspect of creativity they share, and we shall try to prove that this aspect is—albeit complementary—essentially of equal weight in the creation of musical works. We shall more precisely make clear that composition and improvisation turn out to be two ramifications of one and the same creative strategy: There is always composition in the genesis of improvisation, and vice versa.