Postgraduate Researchers

PhD Research Student - Conservatoire

Project title: “Beyond genre: Towards new compositional paradigms; inclusion and consideration in contemporary and popular music.” The involvement of modern 
electronic sub-genres as a method of promotion and inclusion; highlighting issues of social importance

Project abstract:

PhD in electro-acoustic composition; the work is investigating techniques and sonic aesthetics traditionally used in contemporary song writing, pop and hip-hop music, and using these to create contemporary classical ensemble works which probe the possible area between songwriting and contemporary composition. Through practical research and the creation of new sound transmission, I am recontextualising styles/techniques found in popular electronic music and contemporary music elements; challenging the paradigms that validate certain genres as most respected in art music today. 

The focus is a novel use of electronic vocal effects pedals in a ‘2D electro-acoustic choir’ design. Sounds and production/editing styles from modern electronic sub-genres and popular music genres are used in fixed media, including edits of recorded poems, scores, performances and recordings, accompanying a large ensemble performance. I am particularly interested in ideas surrounding the democratising of creative output and the promotion of urban music and contemporaneous sub-genres in academic study. 

The theoretical framework for these compositions explores social aesthetics and points to the issues of racism, classism and sexual identity and gender disparities as historically being the underlying reasons for an arguable prejudice against popular music and the perception of elitism in art music. This work questions the place of this perspective, in both society and academia; advocating for transcultural awareness in music education and to promote the rightful esteem of popular electronic music sub-genres. The research informed the approach to sourcing societal/political poetry as a basis from which to compose; using the works of migrant poets of colour, poets from the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalised backgrounds in Ireland; giving their own pieces a new voice and highlighting the disparity in the treatment of marginalised people, to date, in Western Classical music. 

 
This work will be realised by a full album, entitles “The Tiniest Crack of Silence”
 

Supervisors: Professor Grainne Mulvey, Dr Kerry Houston, Dr. Caroline O'Sullivan