<p>EVOLUTIONARY SKETCHES is a three-movement sextet composition for flute, clarinet in Bb, percussion, piano, viola, and cello. The idea of the piece is based on the study of applying scientific evolutionary theories to compositional techniques. The first movement reflects my attempt to realize the generic process of development from one generation to the next by natural selection, crossover, or mutation. In the second movement, I conceive an image of evolution in which changes take place through battles among different evolutionary factors over progress. The structure of the third movement explores the extensive use of cellular automata.</p> / Dissertation

Cette thèse explore les rapports entre la formalisation mathématique, ses implications dans les pratiques compositionnelles et ses répercussions sur l’interprétation analytique. Elle se base sur l’étude de Semi-Simple Variations pour piano (1956) de Milton Babbitt, de Nomos Alpha pour violoncelle (1965-1966) de Iannis Xenakis (1921/22-2001), et d’une sélection de textes théoriques publiés par les compositeurs autour de ces deux œuvres.L’argumentaire est divisé en trois parties. La première étudie les textes théoriques afin d’en dégager les éléments formalisés (ou résultant de la formalisation) ainsi que les indices permettant d’en retracer les implications dans les pratiques compositionnelles. Ces éléments sont précisés dans la deuxième partie via la reconstitution des traces laissées par les composantes formalisées dans les textes musicaux (« modèles théoriques »). Ce travail est mené sur les deux œuvres proposées à l’analyse puis élargi à d’autres œuvres. Les modèles théoriques de deux d’entre elles étaient jusque-là restés inédits : Three Compositions for Piano de Babbitt (1947-1948) ; et Akrata de Xenakis pour 16 vents (1964-1965). La troisième partie soumet Semi-Simple Variations et Nomos Alpha à deux analyses : la première étudie les modèles théoriques, directement liés aux univers formels, alors que la seconde examine les surfaces sonores et comment elles articulent et/ou contredisent les éléments dégagés au niveau des modèles. Tout en soulignant le rôle fondamental, quoique très différent, joué par la formalisation dans les univers compositionnels de Babbitt et de Xenakis, la distance séparant les modèles théoriques des surfaces sonores amènent à considérer l’apport des premiers dans l’interprétation analytique comme étant de nature avant tout heuristique. En tant que traces de la pensée du compositeur, les modèles théoriques peuvent néanmoins suggérer de nouvelles pistes et méritent d’être intégrés à des recherches futures. / This thesis explores the links between mathematical formalization, its implications in compositional practices, and its repercussions on the analytical interpretation. It is based on the study of Milton Babbitt’s Semi-Simple Variations for piano (1956), on Iannis Xenakis’ Nomos Alpha for violoncello (1965-1966), and on a selection of theoretical texts published by the composers around these two works. The argumentation is divided in three parts. The first studies the theoretical texts with the aim of extracting from them the components that are formalized (or result form formalization) as well as the indices pointing towards their implications in the compositional practices. These are then put into sharper view in the second part, through the reconstruction of the traces left by these components in the musical texts (“theoretical models”). This reconstruction is first conducted on the two main works considered before other works are considered. The theoretical models of two of them had until now remained unknown: Three Compositions for Piano by Babbitt (1947-1948) ; and Akrata for 16 winds (1964-1965) by Xenakis. The third part submits Semi-Simple Variations and Nomos Alpha to two analyses: one is aimed at the theoretical models, directly linked to the formal universes, the second examines the musical surfaces and at the way they articulate and/or contradict the elements observed in the models. While underlining the fundamental - though very different - role played by mathematical formalization in Babbitt’s and Xenakis’ compositional universes, the distance that separates the theoretical models from the musical surfaces brings one to consider the role of the former within the analytical enterprise as essentially heuristic. As traces of the composer’s thinking, the theoretical models may however suggest new approaches and deserve to be fully integrated in future research.

In the essay A Rhetorical Guide to Ebb I explore the diverse array of influences in art, and music that guided the creation of the composition Ebb, for 13 musicians and electronics. Of those influences, the boxes of the American artist Joseph Cornell played a particularly important role. Having based the conceptual framework for Ebb on ideas taken from Cornell, the essay, instead of being driven by a single thesis, involves the creation of conceptual boxes. These conceptual boxes emphasize the influence of the artist Joseph Cornell, along with the composers Iannis Xenakis and Gérard Grisey. In addition, a time line documenting the stages in Ebb's creation is included.

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No. of bitstreams: 7 Dissertação - Lúcio Silva Pereira - 2014.pdf: 1594411 bytes, checksum: 5cbd4ef5a98c0dfa848284654f9329fb (MD5) 01 Faixa 1.wma: 1648786 bytes, checksum: a5b2dee254892b3222580dc1394d067b (MD5) 02 Faixa 2.wma: 14664514 bytes, checksum: 4e9c32ef525370b2609b68d626986f4b (MD5) 03 Faixa 3.wma: 5252314 bytes, checksum: e0216acc499eba6d07ed0c4bfc454eaa (MD5) 04 Faixa 4.wma: 8037130 bytes, checksum: 28fc63e6d83b37db8ba0a5f3ab21d02a (MD5) 05 Faixa 5.wma: 8246290 bytes, checksum: e61b3d99b32574e7e07bc37cd5228662 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-04-25 / This research is organized in two parts: A – Artistic production and B – Paper. The first part presents the programs and the program notes of the concerts held on August 23, 2013 and April 25, 2014. The second part presents the paper, which aims to study the use of multiple percussion in Iannis Xenakis solo and mixed chamber music, identifying and discussing performance characteristics of this set of works as well as idiosyncratic elements of percussion written by this composer. The paper begins with the concept of multiple percussion, historically situates the percussion in Western classical music during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and underscores the importance of Iannis Xenakis as a composer for this new lineage of percussion. The paper also proposes an approach to the works in which there is one percussionist playing multiple percussion set-ups, in solo or mixed chamber music context. Thus, the selected works are: Psappha (1975), Dmaathen (1976), Komboï (1981), Kassandra (1987), Oophaa (1989), Rebonds (1987/89) and Plektó (1993). After delimiting the repertoire to be studied, this paper identifies and discusses four characteristics of the works: (1) instrumentation, (2) the use of polyrhythms, (3) issues relating to the impossibilities in Xenakis’ music and (4) the use of polyphonic textures. The discussion section suggests traits that characterize the composer’s writing, identifying elements of recurrent use in various works, developing benchmarks, proposing technical solutions and developing interpretive conceptions that seek to contribute in the preparation of the performance of this set of works. / Esta pesquisa está organizada em duas partes: A – Produção artística e B – Artigo. A primeira parte apresenta os programas e as notas de programa dos concertos de qualificação e defesa, realizados, respectivamente, nos dias 23 de agosto de 2013 e 25 de abril de 2014. A segunda parte consiste no artigo, que tem como principal objetivo estudar a utilização da percussão múltipla em obras solo e de câmara mista de Iannis Xenakis, identificando e discutindo particularidades da performance desse conjunto de obras, bem como elementos idiossincráticos na escrita percussiva do compositor. O artigo parte da conceituação de percussão múltipla, situando historicamente a percussão na música clássica ocidental durante os séculos XX e XXI, e ressalta a importância de Iannis Xenakis como compositor para essa nova linhagem do fazer percussivo. O trabalho também propõe dar um enfoque nas obras em que há um percussionista tocando percussão múltipla, seja solo ou em um contexto camerístico misto. Assim, as obras selecionadas e discutidas ao longo deste artigo são: Psappha (1975), Dmaathen (1976), Komboï (1981), Kassandra (1987), Oophaa (1989), Rebonds (1987/89) e Plektó (1993). Delimitado o repertório a ser estudado, este artigo identifica e discute quatro particularidades das obras: (1) instrumentação, (2) uso de polirritmias, (3) questões referentes a impossibilidades na música de Xenakis, e (4) uso de texturas polifônicas. A discussão aponta traços que caracterizam a escrita do compositor, identificando elementos de uso recorrente nas diversas obras, elaborando pontos referenciais, propondo soluções técnicas e desenvolvendo conceitos interpretativos que buscam contribuir para a preparação da performance do conjunto de obras.

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