Real-time composition as a strategy for the 21st century composer

• Autor(a) principal: Rodrigues, Óscar Manuel Soares
• Data de Publicação: 2016
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/9083
• topic: Real-time composition; Improvisation; Soundpainting; Composição em tempo real; Improvisação

Real-Time Composition, despite being a term commonly used in computer music and free improvisation circles, is also one whose definition is not clear. This dissertation aims to, in seeking and attempting its conceptualisation, permit a deeper look at the core of the activity of western classical music making. By discussing the concepts and current views on composition, improvisation, musical work, interpretation and performance, we will propose a working definition that will later serve as a model for music making; one that involves both the composer and performers, influenced by their context, as creators. This model borrows heavily from Walter Thompson’s Soundpainting technique. We will then analyse the outcome of three different concerts, of increasing complexity and level of control, that resulted from the previous discussion and end by concluding that Real-Time Composition is, in fact, fundamentally different from improvisation, and an extension of western classical music practice.