Encoding Emotion
(2024)
author(s): Geneviève Gates-Panneton
published in: KC Research Portal
The paper Encoding Emotion details an experiment conducted on early 18th-century French recitative to determine how composers relate harmony to sung text, if at all. Although the existence of a relationship between harmony and vocal expression is generally agreed upon, it is rarely properly taught to baroque singers, even though harmony is fundamental to the concept of basso continuo. It is also rarely discussed in continuo or singing treatises, either historical or modern, and, if so, never explicitly. The present experiment aims to fill that gap by examining harmony and text in actual written music. To do so, a harmonic analysis was performed on excerpts of secco recitative from French operas and cantatas written by Campra, Clérambault, Jacquet de la Guerre, and Rameau; the significant chords and harmonic passages were then logged in a spreadsheet with their corresponding text. Over two hundred lines of results were then analysed to determine whether patterns could be found associating certain words to chords or harmonic progressions. In the end, the dataset was too small for any general conclusions to be made with certainty, but patterns still emerged. Most notably, the plagal cadence correlated to feelings of love and tenderness, particularly in a sacred or noble context. It was also noted that, though general patterns could not always be identified, some chords or harmonic progressions appeared to have specific meaning for a certain composer. The V of IV, for example, was strongly associated with pleasure in Clérambault's works. Although there is only limited use for these results outside of this study, the identified patterns show that a more extensive dataset would yield enlightening results and give singers access to a remarkably rich tool with which to inform their interpretation.
Sonic Complexion
(2022)
author(s): Jacob Anderskov, Niclas Hundahl
published in: Rhythmic Music Conservatory, Copenhagen
The Sonic Complexion project has investigated from an artistic perspective the musical dimensions texture and ‘klang’ (harmony), with the aim of creating new music and new perspectives. The outcomes of the project are a number of new albums, methodologies and perspectives, coming from quite different starting point in terms of how to systematically-artistically investigate texture and harmony.
Harmony on the violin - internalising harmony for violinists and the role of (tonal) improvisation
(2017)
author(s): Liesbeth Ackermans
published in: KC Research Portal
Abstract
Harmony on the violin – exploring ways to enhance harmonic awareness by improvisation. How can playing with basic elements of classical music help us to enter the music we perform ‘from within’, to enjoy the creative moment in connection with the repertoire we know so well and love so much, to ‘co-compose’… How can (tonal) improvisation be an aid to learn about harmony in a way that experience comes first, using, in this research, the violin as our voice?
In this research my aim has been to create a toolbox of games/exercises that can be used working in the above mentioned way. At the same time the exploratory journey of the research proved to be a transformative experience with regard to my own relationship with the music I play, love and teach. In this paper those two threads – the development of educational material and the testing out of it on the one hand and my personal development as a violinist and musician on the other hand - are constantly intertwined. The one cannot do without the other.
This paper is a report of all activities that added to the above mentioned two processes. The report will guide you through the origins of the research, the rich input of colleagues, masters and books on the subject, a report of the practising, imagining, exploring hours spent by myself in my garden house, information on the enjoyable sessions when trying out the material with students. At the centre of the paper you will find the games and exercises themselves – the content of the toolbox, called ‘Invitations’. A closer look at certain aspects of the research is found in Chapter 5 – Behind the scene. The paper will finish with a set of recommendations and conclusions and – above all – future plans.
I do hope you will enjoy this research – a research into methods that can be used to let the playing from musical intuition and the building of harmonic consciousness meet. In doing so, enjoying the richness, benefits and pleasure that musical improvisation has to offer in music education.
Franz Danzi and Andre Jolivet (Bassoon Concertos)
(last edited: 2023)
author(s): Mira Hristova
This exposition is in progress and its share status is: visible to all.
This article is about two of the greatest composers who wrote Bassoon Concertos - Franz Danzi and Andre Jolivet. It covers information about their lives, experiences, musical periods and Concertos. What made me do this research is that I really enjoy listening to and performing their concerts as well as Danzi's well-known Woodwind Quintets. I find a lot of inspiration, meaning and opportunities for expression in their music and I hope the reader could too.
*If the attached links do not work, please copy and paste them in your browser!*
Little Miracles- An emerging spatial understanding of harmony and its application in my creative practice
(last edited: 2021)
author(s): Nayeli Vazquez Bertely
This exposition is in progress and its share status is: visible to all.
I am an artist-researcher working on the refinement of my language. As a Mexican choreographer, the search for harmony has been intuitively present for a long time in my personal and artistic life, however, there was a gap between my rational and spiritual motivations and the understanding of its origin, as well as the intuitive understanding of space that guided my creative work.
Through time and practical experience, I came to develop my own tools and the integration of visual metaphors and gestures to create movement material. However, the motivation and intuitive processes that led me to make specific choreographic choices continued to be a mystery.
I surrendered to what my body and intuition knew, and I reconnected, re-discovered with my ancient Mexican roots: a very scientific, naturalistic, and understanding of the universe based on the understanding of harmony as the balance between opposites. A geometrical manifestation of the duality of the universe.
I work in an abstract and physically universal way, where intangible subjects as harmony and love manifest using contrast and spatial oppositions.
I felt the urge to explore meticulously what harmony represents in my work, embracing my natural visual and spatial tendency to understand the universe. I this research I created and refined methods for the generation of movement material inspired in the principles of harmony.
Little Miracles
(last edited: 2021)
author(s): Nayeli Vazquez Bertely
This exposition is in progress and its share status is: visible to all.
------------This is under construction
Do and document, Phase 1
(last edited: 2020)
author(s): Nayeli Vazquez Bertely
This exposition is in progress and its share status is: visible to all.
This research explores the concept of harmony. The expected outcome is a deeper understanding of the key elements of harmony and how those could be integrated and manifested into my artistic work.
Harmony can be studied in different fields, however, I am focusing my attention on the following aspects: agreement of ideas, feelings, or actions, or a pleasing combination of different parts, a combination of separate but related parts in a way that uses their similarities to bring unity.
It is important to point out that I am sharing this document as a practice-led researcher under an artistic scope, and not as a theoretical-philosophical approach.
In this basic exposition, you will find the investigative activities and interventions that were carried on during phase 1 of the research.
The Sonic Complexion project has investigated from an artistic perspective the musical dimensions texture and ‘klang’ (harmony), with the aim of creating new music and new perspectives. The outcomes of the project are a number of new albums, methodologies and perspectives, coming from quite different starting point in terms of how to systematically-artistically investigate texture and harmony.open exposition comments (0)
This article is about two of the greatest composers who wrote Bassoon Concertos - Franz Danzi and Andre Jolivet. It covers information about their lives, experiences, musical periods and Concertos. What made me do this research is that I really enjoy listening to and performing their concerts as well as Danzi's well-known Woodwind Quintets. I find a lot of inspiration, meaning and opportunities for expression in their music and I hope the reader could too. *If the attached links do not work, please copy and paste them in your browser!*open exposition comments (0)
This research explores the concept of harmony. The expected outcome is a deeper understanding of the key elements of harmony and how those could be integrated and manifested into my artistic work. Harmony can be studied in different fields, however, I am focusing my attention on the following aspects: agreement of ideas, feelings, or actions, or a pleasing combination of different parts, a combination of separate but related parts in a way that uses their similarities to bring unity. It is important to point out that I am sharing this document as a practice-led researcher under an artistic scope, and not as a theoretical-philosophical approach. In this basic exposition, you will find the investigative activities and interventions that were carried on during phase 1 of the research.open exposition comments (0)