The margin and the mainstream : positioning Harry Partch's theories within the broader discourse of musical aesthetics

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorHofmeyr, Hendriken_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGripper, Dereken_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-10-26T19:36:33Z
dc.date.available2014-10-26T19:36:33Z
dc.date.issued2002en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: leaves 102-106.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe dissertation examines the broader musical value of microtonal composer Harry Partch's musical theories by locating his critique of abstract music within mainstream compositional theory and aesthetics. This contextualisation aims to deconstruct Partch's iconoclastic image so as to understand his contribution within a wider realm of critical discourse. The work of composers that follow in Partch's footsteps becomes important in this context, especially that of his one-time student Ben Johnston whose own microtonal aesthetic is firmly rooted in European aesthetics from Debussy to Schoenberg. By a study of Johnston's utilisation of Partch's theory of just intonation the dissertation attempts to arrive at a more inclusive compositional theory, one which continues to address those aspects of Partch's theories that serve as a valid and constructive critique of traditional musical values. Taking Adorno's view that musical critique must deal with the problem of reification at the level of musical materials, the author proposes a reading of Partch's corporeal philosophy that is applicable beyond the confines of narrative musical drama. By creating a distinction between historical models of organisation and 'second nature' forms of musical presentation, it is suggested that critique does not necessarily prefigure alienation from the mainstream, but can rather be situated within musical discourse in such a way that a new image of the latter's forms results. On a practical level, the dissertation explores the validity of expanded just intonation as a means of achieving this immanent critique, both in the realm of compositional theory and, implicitly, in that of analytical theory, concluding with the description of a tuning system with the capacity to synthesise the range of compositional theories explored.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationGripper, D. (2002). <i>The margin and the mainstream : positioning Harry Partch's theories within the broader discourse of musical aesthetics</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,College of Music. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8792en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationGripper, Derek. <i>"The margin and the mainstream : positioning Harry Partch's theories within the broader discourse of musical aesthetics."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,College of Music, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8792en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationGripper, D. 2002. The margin and the mainstream : positioning Harry Partch's theories within the broader discourse of musical aesthetics. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Gripper, Derek AB - The dissertation examines the broader musical value of microtonal composer Harry Partch's musical theories by locating his critique of abstract music within mainstream compositional theory and aesthetics. This contextualisation aims to deconstruct Partch's iconoclastic image so as to understand his contribution within a wider realm of critical discourse. The work of composers that follow in Partch's footsteps becomes important in this context, especially that of his one-time student Ben Johnston whose own microtonal aesthetic is firmly rooted in European aesthetics from Debussy to Schoenberg. By a study of Johnston's utilisation of Partch's theory of just intonation the dissertation attempts to arrive at a more inclusive compositional theory, one which continues to address those aspects of Partch's theories that serve as a valid and constructive critique of traditional musical values. Taking Adorno's view that musical critique must deal with the problem of reification at the level of musical materials, the author proposes a reading of Partch's corporeal philosophy that is applicable beyond the confines of narrative musical drama. By creating a distinction between historical models of organisation and 'second nature' forms of musical presentation, it is suggested that critique does not necessarily prefigure alienation from the mainstream, but can rather be situated within musical discourse in such a way that a new image of the latter's forms results. On a practical level, the dissertation explores the validity of expanded just intonation as a means of achieving this immanent critique, both in the realm of compositional theory and, implicitly, in that of analytical theory, concluding with the description of a tuning system with the capacity to synthesise the range of compositional theories explored. DA - 2002 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2002 T1 - The margin and the mainstream : positioning Harry Partch's theories within the broader discourse of musical aesthetics TI - The margin and the mainstream : positioning Harry Partch's theories within the broader discourse of musical aesthetics UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8792 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/8792
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationGripper D. The margin and the mainstream : positioning Harry Partch's theories within the broader discourse of musical aesthetics. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,College of Music, 2002 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8792en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentCollege of Musicen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherMusicen_ZA
dc.titleThe margin and the mainstream : positioning Harry Partch's theories within the broader discourse of musical aestheticsen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMMusen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_hum_2002_gripper_d.pdf
Size:
2.6 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters