Electroacoustic music composition, guided by the inherent methodologies and approaches of wildlife sound recording

Ferguson, Mark George Thomas (2022). Electroacoustic music composition, guided by the inherent methodologies and approaches of wildlife sound recording. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This commentary accompanies a portfolio of eleven fixed-media electroacoustic works, realised during full-time doctoral research at the university of Birmingham between October 2018 and October 2021. All works in the portfolio were composed using my own wildlife source recordings exclusively.

An analytical discussion of the portfolio—the main body of the commentary—is set within a wider discourse, encompassing: research background and context; approaches to wildlife sound cataloguing and source selection; practical and theoretical methodologies; emergence of methodological symbiosis between field and studio practices; notes on listening space, work diversity and genre; and additional research interests. The commentary closes with some thoughts on future research.

The main appendices to the commentary include: selected pre-doctoral works and wildlife recordings; technical/programme notes; source recordings by composition; Csound code; wildlife sound cataloguing materials; full-resolution plates; tabular piece overviews; and supplementary materials. These appendices are referenced throughout the discussion, with a view to providing as much context as possible on my working practice.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):