How do Composers Create Tension in their Music?

One way that composers can create tension in their music is by adding a crescendo in their piece right before a sudden stop. This makes the climax in the piece begin and then it stops. The listener starts to ask them self what is going to happen next? Is it gonna end happy or sad? The crescendo signifies the beginning of the climax and the sudden stop is a time where the composer gives time for the listener to ask questions. The composer could then give the reader and answer by composing a nasty sound for a sad ending or a nice sound for a happy ending. The good part about a void in a piece is that it gets the listener hooked and wanting to hear more so that he can be relieved from all the tension created because of the void.

ISKL Band Mission Statement

The International School of Kuala Lumpur provides an exceptional (silence) education that challenges each student to develop the attitudes, skills, knowledge and understanding to become a highly successful, spirited, socially responsible global citizen.

I thought that adding the silence after exceptional was the right place to put it because it got the reader to ask what ISKL was exceptional at. Once someone starts to read the mission statement they start to get a feeling that ISKL is gonna be something great until there is a pause after the word exceptional. The reader asks questions like "What are they good at? Is this actually a good school? Do they care about their education?" They ask all those questions until the quote continues and it says our school is very good at teaching our kids information and teaching them how to be responsible global citizens. A void makes people ask questions and it makes them wanting more.