A Sketch of Sound

From my perspective, each sound has its own shape that can be presented through different pitches and timbres at any given moment. This approach to sonic texture is central to my orchestral work, A Sketch of Sound. The brass, wind, percussion, and string sections function independently of each other, and each creates a single type of atmospheric sound. Extensions of these basic textures either connect or collide against each other. Such extensions include the use of the harp and the piano, which appear with various instrumental groups, and the appearance of multiphonics in the winds and harmonics in strings, all of which enrich the orchestral timbres and intertwine to create an ambiguous effect of sound. The piece is in an atmosphere-based arch form: intense-diminished-extreme-diminished-intense. The full orchestra is used during the outer “intense” sections, and the mitigative “diminished” segments employ fewer instrumental lines and mallet percussion instruments. The central “extreme” section, the climax of the work, features high pitches on the violins and flutes, Two intervals are repeated throughout the piece, iii the seventh and the second. The seventh is used as an active element, while the second remains motionless. Rhythmic imitations among the same groups of instruments create echo effects. Through a variety of musical means, this work offers a perspective on the nature and essence of sound.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri -- Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Li, Bo

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/70441

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/70441