Portfolio of Compositions with Accompanying Commentary

Elias Kotzias

Research output: ThesisDoctoral Thesis

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Abstract

The aim of this commentary is to present and discuss my individual style of electronic composition and the issues surrounding it.

The research is primarily concerned with the creation of soundscapes. Within these soundscapes I am trying to experiment sonically with representation of physical environments and/or with psychological conditions. Another feature of my creative approach is that it focuses on the use of human sounds as raw material as a major part of the compositional process. Recorded voice, breathing, heartbeat as well as many other sounds produced by and/or from the human body are manipulated, electronically or not, and combined in order to create a ‘blurring’ and all this functions within the soundscape. My compositional methods allow a blending of natural and electronic sound elements.

This method raises issues such as; what is the difference between a natural and an electronic sound when they produce a similar sound effect?; and in which ways can human sounds be manipulated so as to awaken the human subconscious? In my works I have incorporated various compositional methods based on ideas previously explored by composers such as Jani Christou, Brian Eno, John Cage, Luciano Berio and Steve Reich. However, I have appropriated them in my personal compositional aesthetic which, genre wise, arguably stands somewhere between experimental /avant-garde and ambient music.

This commentary presents my ideas and techniques on which the portfolio of works composed during the period of doctoral research is based. The commentary also contains a series of illustrations that I have developed to assist the reader’s understanding of the theoretical concepts.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationPh.D.
Awarding Institution
  • Royal Holloway, University of London
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Lock, Brian, Supervisor
Award date1 Sept 2013
Publication statusUnpublished - 2013

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