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Abstract

My research includes a portfolio of five compositions that explores textural ideas in a range of instrumentation from those of contrasting sound worlds to those of the same orchestral family. I have been drawn to smaller ensembles to see if ideas of fusion can be achieved through intimate instrumental forces and I have found fusion can be achieved effectively in small ensembles and contrasting instrumentation.

In my examination of 20th and 21st century composition I identify an alignment in my creative process with a selection of composers who are exploring sound and fusion in texture. I find that landscapes of slow transformations and pitch stasis effectively achieve the fusion of textures, but I do not exclude the inclusion of melodic lines. Instead I strive to build these both into my composition and find it effective for creating moments of contrast. I also find illuminating the work of Garth Knox taking strides to open up a wider palette of performance practice in instrumental music. I draw similarities with Kokoras’ approach of sound scales and applied this to my own composition.

I focus in on the works of three musicologists and composers: Panayiotis Kokoras, Denis Smalley and Manuella Blackburn. In my thesis I take a chapter to explore each of these, their methodologies and how this has effected my composition. All three composers are specialists within electroacoustic music and I take these practices and applied them to instrumental composition. I find that Spectromorphology does make an effective instrumental composition tool and that this used alongside visual aids and language from Blackburn serves as an inspiring methodology. Through this research I argue that there are many approaches to electroacoustic music that can be effectively applied to instrumental music for the exploration of the plurality of textural ideas.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	M Music and Books on Music > M Music
Departments:	School of Communication & Creativity > Performing Arts > Music School of Communication & Creativity > School of Communication & Creativity Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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