GENERAL WELCOME AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE FOR THIS NEWSGROUP

                    biweekly statement

In 1992, Josh Barinstein proposed and initiated this newsgroup
(REC.MUSIC.COMPOSE).  Since that time, it has operated almost
exclusively at a level of civility, informality, and informativeness
that I personally think is exemplary for all of USENET.  Occasional
flamebait, trolls, and a couple of token psychotics/megalomanics have
not been able to disrupt the process.

Pop songwriters have splintered off their own newsgroup,
rec.music.makers.songwriting, but songwriting is discussed here in rmc
from time to time, and this newsgroup has no particular leaning
towards any style of music.  Statistically, the styles most discussed
here are dynamic quantities, dependent mainly on who posts here.  If
you don't see discussion about the writing of your favorite style of
music here, consider posting.

The general philosphy seems to be that composers have common needs,
can use common resources, and can make use of common information
across stylistic boundaries.  This is the main reason
rec.music.compose is not heavily sorted into subsidiary groups.

Josh Barinstein's original proposal for rec.music.compose follows.
This document is the official charter for this newsgroup, elected by
a landslide majority of voters prior to the creation of rec.music.compose
in 1992.

Matthew H. Fields DMA


NB Josh has moved onto other things. I'm not sure where he is now,
nor what is his current e-mail address, though at one time he used
jbarinstein@novalogic.com.

----------ELECTED CHARTER FOLLOWS----------

>From josh@tekelec.com
From: josh@tekelec.com (Josh Barinstein)
Subject: Re:  r.m.c. docs

***** PROPOSAL FOR NEWSGROUP TO DISCUSS COMPOSING/SONGWRITING:

NAME
----

     rec.music.compose

STATUS
------

     unmoderated

CHARTER:
-------

     rec.music.compose would allow composers and songwriters of all sorts
to exchange ideas concerning the creation of musical works.  Questions to
be addressed include:

     - Where is composing/songwriting heading?  What is being written?
     - How is the the art of music writing approached today?
     - What obstacles are writers facing in today's society?
     - What can a composer/songwriter do to improve his [Ed.:"their"] craft?

     This forum would be open to discussions of all styles of composition;
would allow composers/songwriters to establish connections with one ano-
ther;  would allow for artists to send each other tapes with latest ideas
for opinions/constructive criticism.

RATIONALE:
---------

     There are assorted newsgroups in existence for the discussion of dif-
ferent styles of music; however, these discussions are strictly from a
listener's perspective.  There is also rec.music.makers which discusses the
process by which a musician produces the audible end product.  However,
there is no group that addresses the creative process that is so important
to the art of music-making.  This group would serve to fill that gap.

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              /  |            \                 / Josh Barinstein \
          _|_/___|_____________\               -  josh@Tekelec.com -
        _|        |             |               \ (818) 787-1844  /
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