Reactive Originality, Conflict and Co-operation, and Virtuosity: Defining the Contemporary Concerto

An attempt to define the facets of contemporary concerto composition: a practical<br/>exploration of modelling that investigates the roles of contrast (concerto) and cooperation (concertante) aesthetics and virtuosity.<br/>Chapter 1 outlines what is meant by the term “reactive originality”, some<br/>thoughts regarding the use and presentation of virtuosity in music and outlines the<br/>difficulties of defining the facets of a modern concerto.<br/>Chapter 2 charts the creative process behind the solo piano music, Scorpio,<br/>Aeon and Solilodrama. Taking each Bagatelle in turn, technical analyses are used to highlight the role of the Piano Bagatelles as miniature studies, discussing the<br/>compositional process behind them and their influence upon subsequent pieces. The final section covers how the Capriccio was conceived and how it can be seen as a culmination of the creative work up to this point.<br/>Chapter 3 covers the composition of Introduction and Allegro, noting the shift<br/>in focus from a single soloist to examining the ensemble as a virtuosic entity. Brief<br/>analyses are used to cover its influences and creative processes and to outline how these pieces demonstrate a new focus on thematic unity.<br/>In chapter 4, I demonstrate how The Death of Stars and ...a white haze through<br/>which the moonbeams passed... use the lessons learnt in previous pieces to attempt to conclude the investigations into concerto and concertante idioms.<br/>Chapter 5 discusses any conclusions that can be drawn from the completed<br/>work and reflects on the impact that the project has had on my thinking, technique and artistic development as a composer.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral Thesis

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

King's College London

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Birch, Chris

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Keeley, Robert Ian
• Milstein, Silvina Raquel

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

oai:kclpure.kcl.ac.uk:studenttheses/1ca1047f-14b8-44b4-af56-4d44737ffa53

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kclpure.kcl.ac.uk:studenttheses/1ca1047f-14b8-44b4-af56-4d44737ffa53