Portfolio of Compositions

Abstract

A portfolio of compositions written for a variety of forces ranging from solo piano to full orchestra, with a central core of vocal music written for female choir. In the accompanying commentaries and analyses of these pieces, I show how I explore ways in which to incorporate medieval influence in contemporary composition, ways to approach setting or otherwise using text, and how music can facilitate a meditative or devotional mood in listeners and/or performers. The chapters examine my compositions in terms of these main concepts, and trace how my music developed alongside my evolving understanding of the concepts. I note an aesthetic marked by simplicity, clarity and restraint in my compositions, and situate my music and this aesthetic in the context of some of my influences and contemporaries.

Date of Award	29 Sept 2020
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Supervisor	Neal J Farwell (Supervisor) & John Pickard (Supervisor)