A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Music Johannesburg, 2016 / In this part-written, part-composed creative research project I consider the music of ‘indie’ video games, specifically exploring some of the myriad dynamic compositional approaches in this particular category of game development. In my written work I analyse three indie video games – Braid (2008), Fez (2012) and Journey (2012) – each of which use unique methods to apply music dynamically. I use interviews with the games’ creators, as well as close analysis and transcription of significant sections of each video game, in order to reveal how music is used to provide the player with a more immersive, satisfying, and involving gaming experience. I also consider the use of ambient music in indie video games, a common feature of a large number of contemporary games, weighing up its merits and limitations. Musical concepts and compositional approaches raised in my written work have informed the portfolio of compositions submitted for this degree, and, similarly, my creative work has informed my analytical research. My creative work explores, amongst other aspects, indeterminate form, ambient music, and ways of ‘looping’ material in the creation of unrepeatable structures. This thesis also considers music which functions narratively in games – a function that might necessitate a greater degree of musical linearity — and how this musical role might be incompatible with the demands of interactivity. After briefly introducing the concepts dealt with across this thesis in Chapter 1, Chapters 2 to 4 take the form of case studies of the indie games mentioned above, with each chapter tackling unique challenges that game composers face when writing music for non-linear games, by which I mean games structured so that not all players will experience the content in the same order due to player agency. More specifically, Chapter 2 deals with the game Braid and its use of pre-composed, licensed music and how the game’s developer applies this music dynamically to the game. Chapter 3 deals with Fez and its mainly adaptive musical approach, its built-in software music engine, ‘Fezzer’, which allows for a composer to input and manipulate musical loops in the game, and nostalgia in indie video game aesthetics. Chapter 4 centres on the video game Journey and on how autonomous, ‘narrative’ music in video games might be seen to exist in opposition to music’s ability to be truly dynamic. Finally, Chapter 5 reflects on my own creative work for this thesis; how concepts from the case studies have informed my creative work and vice versa. / MT2017

Bibliography: leaf 162.

Bibliography: leaves 94-99.

During the mid 1960s, record producers and jazz critics coined the phrase Sidewinder Syndrome to describe the funky style of music popularized through the success of Lee Morgan's solo release of "Sidewinder. The funky style, rooted in the heart of the hard bop period (1955-1965), united jazz, Latin influences, and popular black traditions such as gospel and urban blues. Lee Morgan (1938-1973), composer of "Sidewinder," and Richard "Blue" Mitchell (1930-1979) were two prolific trumpet artists from this time period who embraced the Sidewinder Syndrome, and as a result provided a rich improvisational vocabulary, as it pertains to trumpet performance practice. This study presents six annotated transcriptions from each artist focusing on elements of jazz vocabulary and solo construction.The study reveals vocabulary and solo construction preferences within the Sidewinder Syndrome. Results indicated the three most common harmonic generalization elements were digital patterns, change-running, and the bar-line shift. Complex harmonic generalization elements included bebop scale, 3-b9 movement, linear chromaticism, and tri-tone substitution / altered dominant. Vocal inflections derived from gospel music and urban blues were the half-valve, grace note, alternate fingerings, note bending, and fall. Bebop influenced articulation included upbeat-to-downbeat articulation and ghost note. Bebop influenced ornamentation included the two-sixteenth note ornament and the turn. Results suggest solo construction relied heavily upon the sequencing of rhythmic and melodic motives. Space was utilized for clarity, new concepts, and octave displacement. Developmental concepts included running eighth and sixteenth note lines. This study provides an opportunity for students of improvisation to isolate and study jazz vocabulary and solo construction of the Sidewinder Syndrome. / School of Music

Fading Points is a piece of music for large wind ensemble. The work is concerned with time perception and is designed to convey to the listener a long temporal progression from slow music to fast music. To this end, the work is written using musical gestures specifically designed for their portrayal of musical time. The work consists of four sections, each of which is described in detail in the analytical part of the thesis. The analysis also describes the rhythmic language, which is created around short rhythmic cells. These cells are based on ratios and are used in all levels of the piece from the surface rhythm to the large formal divisions. The harmonic language is also described. The vertical harmony is derived from a dense chord presented at the beginning of the piece. The horizontal pitch material is created from small pitch cells, also taken from the opening chord. These cells are used in isolation but are also combined to create modes, which are the focus of the latter parts of the piece.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-05-28Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:56:30Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 giareta_ep_me_ia.pdf: 3969355 bytes, checksum: 5755701543a489848e20bc316e2ecdef (MD5) / Pretende-se, neste trabalho, estudar a relação entre as obras para piano solo de Ronaldo Miranda, identificar os procedimentos composicionais utilizados pelo compositor e, a partir daí, extrair ferramentas que facilitem uma adequada interpretação musical das mesmas. O objeto deste projeto firma-se na interpretação musical, através das características notacionais da partitura à luz de um olhar analítico e do levantamento das peculiaridades da escrita pianística. Propõe-se que o intérprete tenha um conhecimento prévio dos elementos que são largamente utilizados pelo compositor e considere os exercícios técnicos sugeridos no último capítulo, compostos pelo autor deste trabalho, com base na identificação e recorrência dos padrões pianísticos composicionais de Ronaldo Miranda. Sendo assim, o pianista terá ao seu dispor recursos que fundamentarão uma postura interpretativa mais coesa, considerando o processo cognitivo, a percepção e a atenção dada no preparo para a execução da obra / It is intended to study the relationship between the works for solo piano by Ronaldo Miranda, identifying the compositional procedures used by the composer and, thereafter extracting tools to facilitate a proper musical interpretation thereof. The object of this project is based on the musical interpretation, through the notational characteristics under an analytical view and setting up the peculiarities of the pianistic writing. It is proposed that the interpreter has prior knowledge of the elements that are widely used by the composer and consider the technical exercises suggested in the last chapter, composed by the author of this research, based on the identification and recurrence of pianistic patterns of Ronaldo Miranda. Thus, the pianist will have at his disposal, resources that will build a more cohesive rendition, considering the cognitive process, perception and attention given in preparation for performing the work

Orientador: Nahim Marun Filho / Banca: Achille Guido Picchi / Banca: Ronaldo Coutinho de Miranda / Resumo: Pretende-se, neste trabalho, estudar a relação entre as obras para piano solo de Ronaldo Miranda, identificar os procedimentos composicionais utilizados pelo compositor e, a partir daí, extrair ferramentas que facilitem uma adequada interpretação musical das mesmas. O objeto deste projeto firma-se na interpretação musical, através das características notacionais da partitura à luz de um olhar analítico e do levantamento das peculiaridades da escrita pianística. Propõe-se que o intérprete tenha um conhecimento prévio dos elementos que são largamente utilizados pelo compositor e considere os exercícios técnicos sugeridos no último capítulo, compostos pelo autor deste trabalho, com base na identificação e recorrência dos padrões pianísticos composicionais de Ronaldo Miranda. Sendo assim, o pianista terá ao seu dispor recursos que fundamentarão uma postura interpretativa mais coesa, considerando o processo cognitivo, a percepção e a atenção dada no preparo para a execução da obra / Abstract: It is intended to study the relationship between the works for solo piano by Ronaldo Miranda, identifying the compositional procedures used by the composer and, thereafter extracting tools to facilitate a proper musical interpretation thereof. The object of this project is based on the musical interpretation, through the notational characteristics under an analytical view and setting up the peculiarities of the pianistic writing. It is proposed that the interpreter has prior knowledge of the elements that are widely used by the composer and consider the technical exercises suggested in the last chapter, composed by the author of this research, based on the identification and recurrence of pianistic patterns of Ronaldo Miranda. Thus, the pianist will have at his disposal, resources that will build a more cohesive rendition, considering the cognitive process, perception and attention given in preparation for performing the work / Mestre

Orientador: Denise Hortência Lopes Garcia / Dissertação ( mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Artes / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T08:05:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Weiss-Santos_KlausSebastian_M.pdf: 25328955 bytes, checksum: e64f05dc52ca92dcc0794ff330b93124 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: A constante preocupação de como propiciar ao aluno de piano uma visão mais ampla do fazer musical, mais relacionada com a sua época, com o indivíduo, incita a investigação por aquilo que possa expandir essas perspectivas. Nesse sentido, é importante haver pesquisas que promovam, com o intuito de difusão e estudo aprofundado, obras musicais que apresentam preocupação com a iniciação a uma linguagem musical contemporânea à época. Ao deparar-se com a coleção de 162 peças progressivas para piano de Ernst Widmer - o Ludus Brasiliensis - essas questões emergem e surge a necessidade de esclarecimento de sentidos e significados dessa música. Neste estudo, o objetivo é revelar sentidos e significados da música de Widmer a partir da apresentação e discussão dos elementos estilísticos da peça nº 162 concatenação do Ludus Brasiliensis. A última peça da coleção, concatenação, apresenta um painel de tendências estéticas e procedimentos técnicos diversificados que sintetizam a proposta de todo o Ludus Brasiliensis. Ela é representativa do repertório para piano no Brasil dos anos 60, do estilo do compositor e do local em que foi escrita. Para o entendimento da peça, foi conduzida uma proposta de análise da mesma, observando as considerações analíticas propostas por LaRue (1989). A metodologia está basicamente dividida em três etapas: em um primeiro momento, foram levantadas questões a fim de situar o texto musical na produção do compositor e no contexto daquele período. Em seguida, foi realizado um estudo descritivo dos elementos musicais da peça baseado em três níveis analíticos: macro, média e micro-análise. Finalmente, foi realizada a síntese e reflexão crítica dos dados coletados. Em termos de resultados, na macroanálise, as questões analisadas na partitura revelaram o aspecto mosaico da peça, no qual elementos celulares presentes no fragmento inicial pervadem toda a obra. As diferentes seções e partes estão concatenadas por elementos de coerência, mas não é possível pensar que a peça se sustenta em parâmetros de unidade, uma vez que as dicotomias não são resolvidas. A relação é mais paradoxal que dialética. Em relação às estruturas médias, foi possível verificar a adaptação de estruturas formais relacionadas ao objetivismo neoclássico. Na microanálise, foi verificado que o emprego de síncopes e de determinados padrões rítmicos, associado ao uso de uma harmonia modal, claramente demonstra a referência regional proposta por Widmer. O estudo mostrou como o ecletismo estilístico, aliado a ideia de miscigenação, de concatenação, revelou-se nessa obra como um programa estético e técnico, e como a perspectiva didática de Widmer resultou em uma abordagem consistente e rica / Abstract: The recurrent preoccupation of how to provide to the student of piano a broader view of the process of making music, which is more related to its time, with the individual, fosters the investigation about what could expand those perspectives. In this sense, it is important to have research that promote, with the intention of diffusion and deep study, musical works that present the preoccupation with a musical language initiation contemporary to the epoch. When we face the collection of 162 progressive pieces to piano from Ernst Widmer - the Ludus Brasiliensis - those questions emerge and it is stated the necessity of enlightenment of senses and meanings of this music. In this study, the objective is to reveal meanings and senses of the music from Widmer since the presentation and discussion of stylistic elements of the piece number 162 concatenação of Ludus Brasiliensis. The last piece of the collection, concatenação, presents a panel of the esthetical tendencies and diversified technical procedures that synthesize the proposal of all Ludus Brasiliensis. It is a representative piece of the repertoire for piano in the Brazil of the 60s, of the style of the composer and of the place where it was written. To the understanding of the piece, a proposal of stylistic analysis of the piece was conducted, observing the analytical considerations proposed by LaRue (1989). The methodology is basically divided into three steps: firstly, some questions were stated to situate the musical text in the composer's production and in the context of that period. Then, a descriptive study of the musical elements of the piece was done based on three analytical levels: macro, middle and micro analysis. Finally, a synthesis and critical reflection of the data collected was done. In terms of results, in the macroanalysis, the analyzed questions in the score revealed the mosaical aspect of the piece, in which cellular elements present in the initial fragment pervade all the work. The different sections and parts are concatenated by coherence elements, but it is not possible to think that the piece is based on parameters of unit, since the dichotomies are not solved. The relation is more paradoxal than dialectic. In relation to the middle structures, it was possible to verify the adaptation of formal structures related to the neoclassic objectivism. In the microanalysis, the use of syncopation and of determined rhythmic patterns, associated to the use of a modal harmony, clearly demonstrate the regional reference proposed by Widmer. The study has shown how the stylistic eclecticism, allied to the idea of miscegenation, of concatenation, was revealed in this musical work as an esthetical and technical program, and, how the didactic perspective of Widmer resulted in a consistent and rich approach / Mestrado / Fundamentos Teoricos / Mestre em Música

Orientador: Silvio Ferraz Mello Filho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Artes / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T13:00:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Castellani_FelipeMerker_M.pdf: 34231257 bytes, checksum: bc31cb58b5109989106920c3c78537a4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Abordamos no presente trabalho a noção de gesto musical circunscrita às poéticas dos compositores Luciano Berio e Brian Ferneyhough. O que as liga é a tomada de consciência de que os gestos musicais não devem ser entendidos como unidades fechadas e prontas para serem utilizadas, não importando o contexto em que serão inseridas. Seja por sua utilização como parte de um processo de significação musical, ou como parte de uma atitude composicional, o mais importante é sua possibilidade de desconstrução e reconstrução. Portanto, este é o principal foco deste trabalho.Nos escritos de Luciano Berio, a noção de gesto musical está interligada a outros aspectos como o virtuosismo, presente na prática instrumental e a teatralidade, produzida por uma relação entre corpo físico do instrumentista e o corpo sonoro gerado pelas ações do mesmo. Para ele os gestos são jogos de representação e significação, que ocorrem em função das convenções históricas e culturais. Por outro lado, para Ferneyhough, o gesto é o resultado de um trabalho paramétrico, que atua tanto com um enfoque tradicional, nas operações que manipulam as alturas e os ritmos, como em formas mais diferenciadas, nos modos de articulação e dedilhados instrumentais. O que o define não é um trabalho isolado, mas a interação entre os diversos procedimentos presentes em um contexto composicional que convergem em direção a um efeito global.Contextualizamos e integramos as questões teóricas através das análises das seguintes obras: as Sequenze de Luciano Berio e Second String Quartet, Time and Motion Study I, Time and Motion Study II e o quinto movimento de Kurze Schatten II, todas de autoria de Brian Ferneyhough.Além das investigações teórica e analítica, também propomos uma experiência prática composicional, que permite a ampliação e complementação de nosso campo problemático. Desta forma, apresentamos um relato de procedimentos composicionais trabalhado simultaneamente com o estudo da poética de Luciano Berio e Brian Ferneyhough / Abstract: In this work we approach the notion of musical gesture circumscribed to the poetic of the composers Luciano Berio and Brian Ferneyhough. What connects them is the awareness of the musical gestures that should not be regarded as closed units and ready for use, no matter the context in which they are inserted. Whether for its use as part of a process of musical signification, or as part of a compositional approach, the most important is its potential to deconstruction and reconstruction, so this is the main focus of this work. In the writings of Luciano Berio, the notion of musical gesture is interconnected to other aspects such as the virtuosity, present in the instrumental practice and the theatricality, produced by a relationship between the physical body and the sonorous body generated his the actions. For the composer the gestures are games of representation and meaning, which occur due to the historical and cultural conventions. On the other hand, for Ferneyhough, the gesture is the result of a parametric work, which operates both with a traditional approach, in the operations that manipulate pitches and rhythms, as in a more differentiated ways, in the modes of articulation and instrumental fingerings. What defines this gesture, it's not an isolated work, but the interaction between the various procedures found in a compositional context that converges toward a global effect. We contextualize and integrate the theoretical issues through the analysis of the following works: the Luciano Berio's Sequenze and Brian Ferneyhough's Second String Quartet, Time and Motion Study I, Time and Motion Study II and the fifth movement of Kurze Schatten II. In addition to the analysis, we also propose a practical compositional experience, which allows the expansion and complementation of our problematic field. Thus, we present a description of the compositional procedures worked simultaneously with the study of the poetics of Luciano Berio and Brian Ferneyhough / Mestrado / Processos Criativos / Mestre em Música

Em observação à existência de obras de Stravinsky influenciadas pela música popular americana (incluindo Ragtime for Eleven Instruments, Preludium for Jazz Ensemble, Tango e Ebony Concerto) esta tese investiga processos identitários através dos quais o compositor fora possivelmente interpelado pela ideia do popular enquanto ponto de partida para situacionais possibilidades estéticas modernistas. Explora também tópicos da teoria hipertextual conforme proposta por Genette (1982), a fim de examinar a presença de transposições hipertextuais em empréstimos de ragtime realizados por Stravinsky. Por fim, realiza revisão de aspectos pertinentes a correntes teóricas no âmbito da relação entre alturas (SCHENKER, 1906, 1910, 1922, 1935; LERDAHL, 2001; STRAUS, 2014), de textura, densidade e movimento musical (BERRY, 1987), da repetição (FERRAZ, 1998) e da sucessão ordenada (HORLACHER, 2011); e da potencialidade projetiva (HASTY, 1997), com o propósito de apurar traços da articulação destas questões em processos composicionais de Stravinsky, com ênfase nas obras acima referidas. Os resultados obtidos por este trabalho apontam que os empréstimos de \"popular\" articulados por transposições hipertextuais atuam enquanto ponto de partida para criação de obras inéditas, as quais são estruturadas através de múltiplos centros de altura principal, níveis de prolongamento, blocos simultâneos e paralelismos. / Considering Stravinsky\'s American popular music inflected works (including Ragtime for Eleven Instruments, Preludium for Jazz Ensemble, Tango and Ebony Concerto), the present thesis aims to investigate identity processes through which Stravinsky was possibly challenged by the popular as a starting point for occasional modernist aesthetic possibilities. It also explores hypertextual theory topics as proposed by Genette (1982), in order to examine issues related to hypertextual transpositions in Stravinsky\'s ragtime borrowings. Finally, it carries out a review of theoretical trends relevant aspects, concearning pitch relations (SCHENKER, 1906, 1910, 1922, 1935 and LERDAHL, 2001); texture, density and musical movement (BERRY, 1987); repetition (FERRAZ, 1998); ordered succession (HORLACHER, 2011); and projective potentiality (HASTY, 1997), with the purpose of ascertaining traces of the articulation of these issues into Stravinsky\'s compositional processes. The results obtained by this work point out that the popular borrowings articulated by hypertextual transpositions act as a starting point for the creation of new works, which are structured through multiple pitch centers, levels of the basic space, simultaneous blocks and parallelism.