“And Then There Was Light”: A G roup of Compositions Inspired b y the Universe’s Creation, Its Present State, and Its Possible F ates. Mohammadreza Modarresi A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS GRADUATE PROGRAM IN MUSIC YORK UNIVERSITY TORONTO, ONTARIO A pril 2015 © Mohammadreza Modarresi , 2015 ii ABSTRACT The work herein contained strives to express (vocally and musically) the creation of the cosmos; whilst adhering to the most pr evalent artistic (philosophical and scientific) notions of the past, present, and future. Due to the complexity of the integral concepts, and my efforts to fashion the final product in a manner that would make it most relatable, the work has become a hybrid of the old and the new, the simple and the complex, and furthermore, macrocosm and microcosm. iii DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my dear brother Behrooz, and my beloved Lisa for their continuous support and dedication. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As it is often the case, to recount the name of every contributor to th e final product of this effort would be impractical, if not impossible. The creation of “And Then There Was Light” was not only the culmination of my graduate education, but the fruit s of many a scientist, physicist, musician (composer, conductor, performer, etc.), and philosophers’ ef forts, were necessary to make it possible. However, I wish to make note of those who have been influential and helpful. I had the privilege of instruction by, and the feedback of , Dr. Michael Coghlan and Dr. Lisette Canton throughout my graduate studies. Mr. Shahriar Haghighat - Jou was kind enough to contribute the lyrics (written by him and myself), used throughout the work. Last but not least, I wish to thank my dear parents and siblings for their continual support, and contributions of every kind, throu ghout my life. v T able of Contents Abstract …………………………………………………………………….. ii Dedication ………………………………………………………………….. i ii Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………… i v 1. Scores Section I: “Before” …………………………………………………………. 1 Section II: “And Then There Was Light” ………………………………….. 2 Section III: “Cosmic Rays” ………………………………………………… 4 Section IV: Tonbak Section No. 1 …………………………………………. 5 Section V: “State Of Confusion”: a) “State Of Confusion Prelude” ………………………………………. 6 b) “State Of Confusion” ……………………………………………..… 8 Section VI: Tonbak Section No. 2 ………………………………………… 26 Section VII: “Deus Misereatur” …………………………………………... 27 Section VIII: Tonbak Section No. 3 ………………………………………. 38 Section IX: “Future Unknown” ……………………..…………………….. 39 Section X: Tonbak Section No. 4 …………………………………………. 49 Section XI: “Destiny” ……………………………………………………... 50 Section XII: Tonbak Section No. 5 ……………………………………….. 58 Section XIII: “Microwaves ’ Prelude” & “Microwaves” ……………………… ….. 59 vi 2. Introduction …………………………………………………………….. 70 3. Thesis Statement………………………………………………………… 73 4. Compositions : the clarification of contents Section I : “Before”………………………………………………………....... 75 Section II: “And Then There Was Light” …………………………………… 78 Section III: “Cosmic Rays” ………………………………………………….. 82 Section IV: Tonbak Section No. 1 …………………………………………... 85 Section V: “State Of Confusion” ……………………………………………. 88 Section VI: Tonbak Section No. 2 …………………………………………... 95 Section VII: “Deus Misereatur” ……………………………………………... 96 Section VIII: Tonbak Section No. 3 ………………………………………… 101 Section IX: “Future Unknown” ……………………………………………... 102 Section X: Tonbak Section No. 4 …………………………………………… 111 Section XI: “Destiny” ……………………………………………………….. 112 Section XII: Tonbak Section No. 5 …………………………………………. 116 Section XIII: “Microwaves” ………………………………………………… 117 5. Conclusion ……………………………………………………………… 120 Bibliography ………………………………………………………………. 122 Discography ……………………………………………………………….. 124 Appendi ces ………………………………………………………………….. 126 The Conductor should follow the orchestra until the gong is sounded (at the merging point) B§ 1 “Before” Mohammadreza Modarresi = 120 @ 1 2 3 4 5 6 N M W M M M M M Flute d W Od M W M M M M M N M W M M M M M Oboe d W Od M W M M M M M N M W M M M M M Clarinet d W Od M W M M M M M N ( M W M M M M M Bassoon ( W O M W M M M M M N M W M M M M M Horn d W Od M W M M M M M N M W M M M M M Trumpet d W Od M W M M M M M N ( M W M M M M M Trombone W O( M W M M M M M u ' N W R _ Timpani (Gong) O( M W M M M Q R _ fff j j j j j j j j j Percussion (Tonbak) j j W j j j j j j j Q M k R R R R R R R R R glissando 00:00:01:04 00:00:00:00 00:00:02:09 00:00:03:14 00:00:04:19 00:00:06:00 00:00:07:04 \ \ N W 8R >R >'R _ \ d 8R >R 8R >R R R R R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R R R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R Harp >R R ' ' ' ' ff ' ' ( W O M W M M M M M N W d M W M M M M M Keyboard I W >R 'R _ ( Q W Q R Q R R \ O RW 8R 8R R >R pRpp R 8R N W d M W M M M M M Keyboard II >R 'R _ ( Q W Q R R Q R R \ O R 8R 8R R >R ppp RW R R 8R N 8R >R R _ Guitar I 8R 8R W R R R d R R W bR bR R R R R \ pp 8R >R R _ Guitar II 8R 8R W R R R R Od R bR W bR bR R R R \ pp N Violin I W 8R >R >'R _ \ d R R R R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R R R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R >R R 8R >R 8'R >R ' ' ' ' f'f Violin II W 8R >R >'R _ \ Od R R R R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R R R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R >R R 8R >R 8'R >R ' ' ' ' f'f ' ' N ' R W ' R 8R >R 8'R >R 8R >R ' R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R >R _ ) >'R R 8R >R 8R >R R W R R \ Viola ff ' ' ' ' R W ' R 8R >R 8'R >R 8R >R ' R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R >R _ O) >R R 8R >R 8R >R R W R R \ ff N ' ' 8R >R ' ' 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R R _ ( R 8R >R 8'R >R R R W R R 8R >R 8R >R R R 8R >R 8R >R \ >'R Violoncello ff W ' 8R >R 8'R >R 8R >R ( R 8R >R 8'R >R R R W R R \ O >R R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R R _ f'f 'R ' N ' ' ' ' 8R >R >R _ Contrabass ( ' R R W R R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R R R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R 8R >R O >R R 8R >R 8R >R Q \ f'f 2 “And Then There Was Light” Poem by: Shah H. 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