Date of Award

4-2018

Degree Name

Master of Music

Department

Music

First Advisor

Dr. Christopher Biggs

Second Advisor

Lisa Coons, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Richard Johnson, D.M.A.

Keywords

Music, electroacoustic, koto, electronics, media

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

This collection of three musical compositions for solo instruments and electronics explores the interaction between acoustic instruments and electronic media with a specific focus on musical form. The musical form is apparent due to clear musical segmentations, and the coherence of each work is maintained by the inter-contextual relationships evident in the musical material. Each piece is divided into three parts: beginning, middle, and end. Each beginning sets up a strong relationship between the two media by using closely timed action-reaction gestures. The middle section diverges away from these reactionary gestures, while the ending then brings about a short return of earlier material. Both the electronic and acoustic parts adhere to this structure.

Each piece combines live and fixed electronics with a different instrumental type in order to explore the potential relationships between both media. Live electronics process sound in real time whereas fixed media is a combination of set audio files that sound the exact same way each time they are played. “Tangled Illusions” is written for koto, a plucked stringed instrument, and triggered fixed media. “Empyrean Tides” is written for alto flute, a wind instrument, and a combination of predominantly triggered fixed media and live electronic effects. “Learning to Speak” is written for woman’s voice, a vocal instrument, and a combination of predominantly live electronic effects and triggered fixed media.

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