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Analyzing the Intersections of Saxophone and Digital Media Through Media Theory

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2019, Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), Bowling Green State University, Contemporary Music.
The saxophone is relatively young compared to other instruments of the band and orchestra. Because the instrument is less constricted by traditional repertoire, composers looking to push the boundaries of concert music eagerly write for the saxophone, and saxophonists willingly experiment with new combinations of performance media. An exponential increase of works written for saxophone and multimedia has occurred since the 1960s. This increase in multimedia works for saxophone has paralleled a digital media revolution, manifested through advancements in recording, interactive media, and communication technologies. This document examines the synthesis of saxophone performance and the digital media revolution, elaborating upon existing repertoire for saxophone and digital media in a non-comprehensive manner, with emphasis placed upon electroacoustic works for saxophone and video. Possibilities for multimedia performance are rapidly expanding within the saxophone’s repertoire. A poignant example, Matthew Burtner’s meta-saxophone project combines motion tracking, accelerometers, and other technologies with the physical saxophone, creating a cyborg instrument. In this situation, Burtner is an auteur, acting simultaneously as the composer, performer, technologist, and sometimes visual artist, all while using the saxophone as the crux of expression. Other composers and artists take a collaborative approach while using saxophone and digital media. These combinations of saxophone and digital media create a new and exciting medium in concert performance. Yet, the combination of live performance and digital medium lacks scholarly analysis. While existing research provides valuable analysis from a performer’s perspective, further examination of the interactions between mediums can reveal new potential and meaning. The introduction of elements of media theory and analysis to saxophone repertoire, using specific repertoire as micro-case-studies, will widen the artistic understanding and conversation between saxophonists, composers, and collaborators involved in multimedia projects.
John Sampen, D.M.A. (Advisor)
Ryan Ebright, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Mikel Kuehn, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Jerry Schnepp, Ph.D. (Other)
152 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zoulek, N. (2019). Analyzing the Intersections of Saxophone and Digital Media Through Media Theory [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1562771812450533

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zoulek, Nick. Analyzing the Intersections of Saxophone and Digital Media Through Media Theory. 2019. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1562771812450533.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zoulek, Nick. "Analyzing the Intersections of Saxophone and Digital Media Through Media Theory." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1562771812450533

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)