Cross-Cultural Composition

: Synthesizing the Sound of Taiwanese Cultural Elements

Abstract

This PhD explores the possibility of synthesizing cultural elements from my Taiwanese heritage and Western musical training, through different compositional approaches and composed works. The portfolio pieces present the whole spectrum of my PhD study. “Sound” is the core element I work with, while employing different cultural materials and instrumentations, and the concepts and attitudes of spectralism and electroacoustic music have strongly influenced my compositional aesthetic. I have explored how Taiwanese cultural elements such as Nanguan, Beiguan, and aboriginal music can be synthesized into new musical forms, presented variously in electronic media, instrumental ensemble, combinations of traditional instrument and electronics, and orchestral score. The written commentary presents the compositional ideas behind each of the pieces, and relevant approaches, techniques, and structural analyses. The content of this PhD includes notated scores, supplementary performance materials, and documentation (audio/video media files) of live performance of each work.

Date of Award	23 Jan 2020
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Bristol
Supervisor	Neal J Farwell (Supervisor) & Michael P Ellison (Supervisor)