Models, language, and fabricated histories: a portfolio of musical compositions with commentary

Leavy, Peter (2018). Models, language, and fabricated histories: a portfolio of musical compositions with commentary. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This portfolio consists of seven compositions accompanied by a written commentary and recordings/mock ups of the works. The compositions span a wide variety of instrumentations ranging from solo works to vocal, choral, chamber and orchestral works.

The commentary provides some background to the works' conception and places them in the larger context of postmodern composition. A brief history of postmodern music is outlined and the reasons for locating my work in this area are explored. Special emphasis is placed on 'the past' as a musical preoccupation, a focus which manifests itself in various ways in all the works included. In some cases, the past acts simply as an inspiration; no attempt is made to reference it in any concrete musical way. In other works, the past is invoked using musical quotation, pastiche, or templates. A multitude of ways in which past music might appear in the present, techniques which allow such importations to achieve a number of different effects, and how these manifest themselves in my works, are all explored.

Analogous compositional approaches in the music of Berio (restoration/repair), Schnittke (quotation), Holloway (composing ‘upon another work’), Goehr (modeling), Chadburn (text setting) and Adès (defamiliarization) are also explored.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):