Portfolio of Original Compositions
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Portfolio of Original Compositions A thesis submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities 2018 Joshua Brown School of Arts, Languages and Cultures Contents List of Examples………………………………………………………………… 4 Contents of CDs and USB……………………………………………………… 5 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………. 6 Declaration……………………………………………………………………… 7 Copyright……………………………………………………………….……….. 8 Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………... 9 Chapter 1 – Introduction……………………………………………….……… 10 Chapter 2 – Musical Influences from Other Cultures 2.1 String Trio…………………………………………………………… 14 2.2 Duet for Clarinets…………………………………………………… 17 2.3 A reed before the wind… ……………………………………….….. 19 2.4 Singing Ringing Tree………………………………………………… 22 Chapter 3 – Pattern 3.1 General……………………………………………………..…………. 24 3.2 Juggling Patterns……………………………………………..……… 25 3.3 Infinity Series as a Structural Device………………………….…… 28 Chapter 4 – Musical Line and Teleology………………………………………. 32 Chapter 5 – Performer Freedom………………………………………..……… 38 2 Chapter 6 – Convergences………………………………………………..……… 42 Chapter 7 – Conclusion………………………………………………….……… 50 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………….. 52 Appendix 1: Scores Studied (indicative list)……………………………….…... 55 Appendix 2: On the Stork Tower Full Score………………………………..…... 61 Word Count – 12,506 3 List of Examples Ex. 1 - Anhemitonic and Transdanubian hemitonic pitch sets…………………. 16 Ex. 2 - Anhemitonic pentatonic matrix………………………………………… 16 Ex. 3 - Opening of the second movement of Duet for Clarinets……………….. 18 Ex. 4 - Diagram by Kevin Cheng of the Shēng’s construction……………….... 20 Ex. 5 - Passage demonstrating the more aggressive Shēng line………………... 21 Ex. 6 - Singing Ringing Tree sculpture by architects Tonkin Liu………………. 23 Ex. 7 - Greek modes used in Duet for Clarinets………………………………... 26 Ex. 8 - Site-swap 531 diagram………………………………………………….. 27 Ex. 9 - Assignation of modes to players, according to site-swap 3…………….. 27 Ex. 10 - Sketch of the first 64 events as numerals (up to appearance of 6)……. 29 Ex. 11 - Assignation of extended techniques to numerals in the Infinity Series.. 30 Ex. 12 - Twelve-tone counterpoint sketch……………………………………… 35 Ex. 13 - Original line used as material from figure K…………………………... 35 Ex. 14 - Different tempi for unison line in A Summer Night…………………… 40 Ex. 15 - Example of the free and strict material in movement II……………….. 41 Ex. 16 - Plan for character of each movement………………………………….. 43 Ex. 17a - Infinity Series constructed from the interval of a perfect fifth……….. 45 Ex. 17b - Line without octave displacement, showing quint-shifting shapes….. 45 Ex. 18 - Theoretical site-swap…………………………………………………... 47 Ex. 19 - Example of one of the shapes from figure C…………………………... 47 4 Contents of CDs and USB CD 1 1. String Trio (16’44): Psappha, live recording 19th February 2015, Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Manchester. 2. Duet for Clarinets (11’22): Ellie Sherwood and Seb Marshall, live recording 27th November 2015, Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Manchester. 3. A reed before the wind… (18’39): Manchester University Chamber Orchestra, with soloists Lixian Chew (Shēng) and Seb Marshall (Clarinets), conducted by James Heathcote, live recording 12th March 2016, Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Manchester. 4. Singing Ringing Tree (15’25): Gavin Osborn, live recording 15th May 2016, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester. CD 2 1. A Summer Night (22’28): Georgia Brown, Katherine Blumer, Dan Nolan, Max Bilbe, Mabon Jones, Malcolm Goodare, with soloist Abi Kitching, conducted by Robin Wallington, recorded 14th May 2018, Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Manchester. 2. Convergences (25’13): Manchester University Music Society Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mark Heron, live recording 21st October 2017, Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Manchester. 3. On the Stork Tower (06’30): Ad Solem, conducted by Rory Johnston, live recording 8th November 2016, Whitworth Hall, Manchester. (See Appendix 2 for full score.) USB Pdfs of all portfolio compositions, a pdf of this commentary, and the digital sound files of the recordings that can be heard on the CDs as listed above. 5 Abstract This composition portfolio consists of six original compositions, as listed below: String Trio (Violin, Viola and Violoncello, 2015) Duet for Clarinets (2 Clarinets in Bb, 2015) A reed before the wind... (Chamber Orchestra, with Shēng and Clarinet soloists, 2016) Singing Ringing Tree (Solo Flute, 2016) A Summer Night (Flute, Clarinet, Percussion, Piano, Violin, Violoncello, with Mezzo-Soprano soloist, 2016) Convergences (Symphony Orchestra, 2017) The following commentary gives details of the research conducted during the process of their composition. This includes chapters discussing the following specific research areas: the influence of music from cultures outside the Western concert hall tradition, the use of pattern within the process of composing, the importance of line and teleology, and the exploration of performer freedom in my work. The sixth chapter discusses how the previous investigations into these topics for earlier works influenced the outcome of Convergences, the final and largest piece in the portfolio. 6 Declaration No portion of the work referred to in this thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or other institute of learning. 7 Copyright i. The author of this thesis (including any appendices and/or schedules to this thesis) owns certain copyright or related rights in it (the “Copyright”) and he has given The University of Manchester certain rights to use such Copyright, including for administrative purposes. ii. Copies of this thesis, either in full or in extracts and whether in hard or electronic copy, may be made only in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) and regulations issued under it or, where appropriate, in accordance with licensing agreements which the University has from time to time. This page must form part of any such copies made. iii. The ownership of certain Copyright, patents, designs, trademarks and other intellectual property (the “Intellectual Property”) and any reproductions of copyright works in the thesis, for example graphs and tables (“Reproductions”), which may be described in this thesis, may not be owned by the author and may be owned by third parties. Such Intellectual Property and Reproductions cannot and must not be made available for use without the prior written permission of the owner(s) of the relevant Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions. iv. Further information on the conditions under which disclosure, publication and commercialisation of this thesis, the Copyright and any Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions described in it may take place is available in the University IP Policy (see http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=24420), in any relevant Thesis restriction declarations deposited in the University Library, The University Library’s regulations (see http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/about/regulations/) and in The University’s policy on Presentation of Theses. 8 Acknowledgements I wish to express my thanks to my teacher, Professor Philip Grange, for his expert guidance and for being a source of inspiration throughout my time in Manchester. I also wish to thank my friends and family for their constant support, especially my parents Steve and Jayne, and my brother Ben. Finally, thanks to all the wonderful musicians I have had the pleasure of working with throughout my PhD research. 9 Chapter 1 - Introduction The primary research aims for this PhD were originally as follows: To integrate influences, such as idioms and forms, from Eastern Europe into my own musical language. To apply musical systems derived from mathematical structures. These primary aims originated from interests I developed during my Master’s degree. I had wanted to pursue these lines of inquiry following a collaboration with the percussionist Tim Williams, which involved working together on a piece for solo cimbalom. During this process I began to research the folk music of Eastern Europe, and Hungary more specifically. The cimbalom is a prevalent feature of the music of this area, and my interest was enhanced by hearing it played in Prague during the summer before my PhD began. During my Master’s studies I also found that working with mathematical and numerical structures, especially the use of Golden Section proportions, had been particularly useful in my approach to how I planned my work. Once I had actually started my PhD research I found that I was drawn to influences from a broader scope than my initial research goals. This was due, in part, to a realisation that I was interested in musical influences from more diverse sources than purely Eastern European. I also discovered that the process of collaboration with musicians who work in genres to which I am unaccustomed informs this interest. Equally, through this diversification of the folk music influences I was working with, I found that my research into musical applications of mathematical concepts was much more useful and interesting when focussing on pattern rather than pure mathematics. This was not only more interesting in itself, but I also found that the use of pattern was a more suitable area of research to explore in order to integrate the two initial research aims and to explore their influence on each other. It was agreed between myself, my supervisor, and my research panel, that changing