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Sears, Brian 2.pdf (9.63 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

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Beneath the Universal Strife, The Hidden Harmony in All Things

Sears, Brian Carl
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1453291367

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Music (MM), Bowling Green State University, Music Composition.
…beneath the universal strife, the hidden harmony of all things… is a single movement, twelve minute composition for percussion trio and live, interactive electronics. Its three percussionists play an assortment of traditional and non-traditional percussion instruments with various implements including, sticks, mallets, brushes, metal dowels, and thimbles. The electronic element consists of real-time live processed, and fixed pre-composed sounds sourced from recordings of percussion sounds and vocal drones. Cast in three main sections, this piece includes musical ideas that represent order, clarity and harmony juxtaposed with contrasting ideas that represent chaos and dissonance. In the opening section, contrapuntal, articulate drum and metal gestures combine with sung vocal intonations and droning electronics to create a calm, undulating texture. A contrasting second section employs bowed metals to create a sustained stillness. The third section begins with vocal hums and sustained bowed metals that develops using rhythmic and melodic motives from the previous sections. The melodic language of …beneath the universal strife, the hidden harmony in all things… is derived from an opening motive utilizing the set 6-z12 [TE0146]. This motive is augmented structurally and rhythmically throughout the piece becoming a foundation for the piece’s global harmonic language. Rhythmic motives play an important role in this piece, particularly in the form of a dotted rhythm that eschews the quarter note pulse. This syncopated rhythm assumes a variety of roles in the piece, acting act as an agitator, cohesive element and generative germ for the piece’s rhythmic material. …beneath the universal strife, the hidden harmony in all things… is the natural evolution of my work of integrating electronics with percussion. It has also allowed me to explore pairing electronics with an ensemble of acoustic instruments using techniques that are new to my musical language.
Elainie Lillios (Advisor)
Mikel Kuehn (Committee Member)
29 p.
Music
percussion; electroacoustic; electronics; max msp

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sears, B. C. (2016). Beneath the Universal Strife, The Hidden Harmony in All Things [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1453291367

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sears, Brian. Beneath the Universal Strife, The Hidden Harmony in All Things. 2016. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1453291367.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sears, Brian. "Beneath the Universal Strife, The Hidden Harmony in All Things." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1453291367

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1453291367
339
© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.