This thesis explores a series of relationships between music and acoustics in order to develop a basis for discussing and critiquing aesthetics in post-Cagean experimental music. Specifically, it examines the acoustic and aesthetic theories that inform the practice of American composers La Monte Young and Alvin Lucier. One particular theme - the sine wave - emerges, both as a prominent feature in the work of these two composers, and also as a nexus point between music and acoustics. Pursuing this theme, the thesis begins by looking at issues in the science, technology, and ideology of acoustics in relation to the study of musical sound in the late nineteenth century. It then aims to situate the sine wave historically, culturally and technologically within a range of scientific and aesthetic practices in operation in the first half of the twentieth century. Finally, it explores the deployment of concepts from the field of acoustics by artists of the avant-garde, and considers what contribution these factors played in broadening the developing discourse of sound within the arts. These discussions then inform detailed investigations into the work of both Lucier and Young, examining their use of sine waves to explore and produce simple acoustic phenomena. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2008. / A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, School of Humanities and Languages, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-08-06Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:35:54Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 lancia_jc_me_ia.pdf: 1949570 bytes, checksum: de65c06be1d96f797a0b1521e72e719c (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O minimalismo musical de La Monte Young, Terry, Riley, Steve Reich e Philip Glass foi chamado, entre outros rótulos, de música repetitiva, modular, de pulsação, de processos e estática – e, portanto, não-teleológica – antes que o termo minimalismo prevalecesse. Uma vez que tais termos não são infundados e refletem características percebidas no minimalismo, este trabalho tenta definir as idéias por trás desses rótulos. O trabalho também discute os procedimentos mais típicos adotados por cada um dos quatro compositores mencionados, apontando as mudanças de feições na produção desses compositores entre as décadas de 1960 e 70, período normalmente utilizado como referência para estudos. / The musical minimalism of La Monte Young, Terry, Riley, Steve Reich and Philip Glass had been called, among other labels, repetitive, modular, pulse, process, and static – and as a result, a-teleological – music before the name minimalism finally caught on. Since those labels reflect, at least in part, some of the features commonly found in the style, this study attempts to define the concepts behind such labels. This work also discusses some of the most typical procedures adopted by the four composers aforementioned, pointing their changing style during the 1960s and 70s, period often used as a reference for studies.