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Raise the Curtain! : Composing beyond the acousmatic to explore performative agencies

In this text, I aim to provide a critical account of a practice-based process where I composed the pieces: No Future, Futuribile No.2, celycib~, and radiocib~. In this iterative process, practical explorations provided foundations for theoretical development, which in turn, guided the following iteration of the practical work. In addition to this, I will critique the concept of the post-acousmatic, using the theoretical insights that emerged from the iterative process. In presenting the artistic results, I will describe the compositional intentions, the process, the aesthetical decisions I made, and a critical reflection on the results. The outcomes of my compositional journey might be regarded as heterogeneous in terms of musical results, and I strongly regard this occurrence in a positive manner. Despite the heterogeneity of the artistic outcomes, a conceptual framework emerges from the critical reflection on the works, linking them together. The conceptual basis of my work is related to two main aspects: one linked to my interest in political issues, the other to artistic and aesthetic matters. I see the artistic space as an opportunity to stage a potential socio-political scenario, in which different possibilities can be prototyped and explored, showing that a broader horizon of possibility can exists, even if in the confined boundaries of the stage. The artistic and aesthetic matters are related to my interest in acousmatic music. In this text I will show how I frequently make use of acousmatic techniques in a post-acousmatic context, which will be described in the Critical Reflection. The description and the critique of the works will highlight how such techniques contribute to this idea.In this text I will frequently make use of the term acousmatic. I am aware of the ambiguity of using this term, which in my understanding, might refer either to a phenomenon or a music genre (see The Post-Acousmatic section). However, I find it a useful tool to address a set of intentions and compositional strategies, aesthetics, and communities. My political and artistic stands relate to each other through my belief that an experimental approach to arts can contribute, to some extent, to the socio-political context. I regard the compositional approaches developed in relation to the acousmatic condition as the most interesting development in new music of the last century. Nevertheless, in the last decades, a standardized way of composing has emerged from the acousmatic communities. My belief is that this led to a speculation over self-referential aesthetics, and consequently, excluded new audiences to get access to it. On the other side, the absence of acousmatic music is noticeable in the programmes of venues, or the online listeners communities, and therefore, the everyday life of people. My belief is that an experimental approach towards arts, including acousmatic music, might be beneficial for contributing to a less hierarchical society: an experimental attitude in arts is the way to explore a broader horizon of possibility.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:kmh-4629
Date January 2022
CreatorsOnorato, Giovanni
PublisherKungl. Musikhögskolan, Institutionen för komposition, dirigering och musikteori
Source SetsDiVA Archive at Upsalla University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeStudent thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text
Formatapplication/pdf
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

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