Write Up Final Report

So today I began the write up for the final report.  I have started the Abstract and given myself the headings of what needs to be included.  Under these headings I have posed questions to myself urging me to answer them as the weeks go on and so that I will not miss anything out of the final draft.  

I'm aiming for the Introduction and Literature Review to be completed by 8th September and the Research Methodology to have at least 4 entries by that point.  

The date for the Research Methodology to be completed is the 22nd September.  This will give me little over a week to compile the evidence, analyse the results and create the conclusion for the project for hand in on 3rd October.

Notes on Shostakovich

I'm looking at using the theme / motif of Shostakovich's Prelude in Eb Minor (Op. 34 No. 14) as a sonic art piece.  I've been trying to find some academic writing on what the piece is based on.  Failing this, I will look at using another Shostakovich work for example String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor Op. 110 as this work has a very strong theme. 

Below is the diagram created in order to keep track of thoughts and progress.

Diagram of Influences and How They are to be Used

The diagram below shows the composers who have influenced me in this project and how their ideas, techniques or compositions will influence the project.  This is a work in progress and is likely to change over the coming weeks.  Please click on the diagram for a larger view.

Diagram of Techniques

The diagram below shows the techniques to be used for the project and how the techniques may effect the project as a whole.  Please click to enlarge the diagram.

The workload

I've come to the conclusion that with other duties, the number of tracks will be significantly cut down to incorporate only the best possible works.  I have also decided that it is not imperative for the works to all undergo the same processes as this is not a project about which process is better, necessarily, rather about whether the pieces being taken and used in new ways has any merit of its own.

Proving the techniques

In order to show how the pieces were created, videos will be made showing the process exactly as I went through them myself.  It will show every single detail of what each piece went through and will be useful, not only as evidence for the project, but also for my own research and technique development. 

Changes to Project

In order to ensure that the project is the very best possible piece of work I can produce, it has changed slightly.  Instead of only using Musique Concrete as a basis for the work, now the project will incorporate many different styles of composition from different composers using different software and hardware.   

The project will take different classical pieces and transform them using different compositional methods in order to re-create the sound in a new, modern way. In a sense, it's merging 2 different styles and era's together to create something new and innovative.
Other composers have done similar things in the past including Stockhausen, Webern, Klusak and Shchedrin. This is often referred to as Polystylism which refers to the use of multiple styles or techniques in music, art, film etc. and is a postmodern characteristic.  This is often also called eclecticism and can describe music which combines multiple styles as well as also being used to refer to music which is thought to be lacking originality and has drawn on other methods or models.

The project will now incorporate different techniques and ideas from many composers and scholars and will show a creative and innovative personal style.  I hope to show that I can compose in a range of ways and in genres.  

Techniques to be used include prepared piano, indeterminacy, Musique Concrete and electroacoustic. 

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