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Harmonic Centricity and Paths Towards Integrating Different Soundworlds


Type

Thesis

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Authors

Roche, David John 

Abstract

Many current schools of compositional thought evidence an interest in the integration and collision of different methods of harmonic organisation. Creating strategies that aid composers in incorporating many dramatically different methods of harmonic organisation in individual compositions will help lead to new, exciting music and ideas – the methods leading to the generation of such strategies are a central concern of this thesis. Composers can create pieces of music that engender dramatically different states of being and relate seemingly unrelated musical ideas – the manipulation of many methods of technical organisation will lead to the successful implementation of such shifts, the thesis also addresses this. A major difficulty in the furtherance of new music relates to how composers can make use of more unusual compositional techniques in contexts where performance practicalities could inhibit the realisation of a piece – working closely with soloists and ensembles lends a crucial insight into appropriate instrumental and vocal writing, a third important aspect of this thesis.

In conclusion, this thesis evidences that it is absolutely possible to relate seemingly distant musical ideas in individual compositions in service of an effective, practical composition. There is a tremendous, exciting wealth of powerful musical ideas to draw upon; such ideas can be found in the collision and integration of dramatically different musics.

Description

Date

2017-09-07

Advisors

Causton, Richard

Keywords

contemporary, classical, composition

Qualification

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Awarding Institution

University of Cambridge

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