Back and Forth: Four pieces for various instrumentation involving the study of creative processes as a method for composing

Abstract

This thesis aims to explore the ways in which the study of another composer’s creative process can stimulate, influence, and provide knowledge to one’s own creative process. As a response to this proposition, I composed four original works; these are: Abstractions to Mr. Sch.² (for orchestra, 2018-2021), Miniatures to Ms. A. (for piano trio, 2019), acrostic (to alcides l.) (for flute and percussion, 2020), and pieces with amplified thoughts (for piano and sound files, 2021). Each composition was created after the study of another composers’ creative process(es) of selected work(s) through their respective working documents. The selected composers and works are the following: R. Murray Schafer (1933-2021), Seventh String Quartet (1998), Violet Archer (1913-2000), Concerto for Violin and Orchestra , first movement (1959), alcides lanza (1929-), plectros IV (1974-I) , son glosas, claro… (1991-I) , ontem (1999-I) , and Norma Beecroft (1934-), Cantorum Vitae (1981), Amplified String Quartet with Tape (1992). Due to its nature, this research draws from theories and models that involve both the study of the creative process a posteriori and in real-time. Thus, the working documents of the selected works are approached by: 1) understanding the chains of operations that unveil the singular musical logic of the creative process (Donin); 2) investigating the network of relations behind the compositional operations (Sallis); 3) accounting for the sonic reality of the documents, therefore producing audio files of excerpts whenever necessary (Chaves). The double role of researcher-composer is supported by other studies that follow the same or similar endeavour (Leroux; Reynolds; Roels). Considering the creative process as a collection of activities instead of a progressive linear single-activity endeavour (Zembylas), and also considering the knowledge that can emerge from this study, I looked into each set of working documents critically, as a composer. From each studied creative process I selected one important agential aspect after which I composed each of my own works.