Research Catalogue

an international database for artistic research

• 3. Internal publication Research published in this issue are only for internal circulation within the Royal Conservatoire, The Hague.
• 2. Royal Conservatoire Investigations Royal Conservatoire Investigations
• 1. Master Research Projects All research in KC

• 
  The Sound Horizon: multilayered composition for headphones and loudspeakers (2025) author(s): Alam Hernández / Blarewolf published in: KC Research Portal
  Music is bound to space; music happens in a space. There cannot be music without space, still, the vast majority of music throughout history has been mainly focused on "what happens when" rather than "what happens when and where.” Today, with the advent of Virtual Reality, Dolby Atmos, binaural recording, and surround systems musicians and listeners are developing a more refined sensitivity and creativity toward sound localisation and spatialisation. Space is gradually attaining greater significance in the way we perceive and conceptualise music. Moreover, the introduction of headphones into the audio market substantially affected the way we perceive music today. The present work describes the creative process and the results of two electronic music pieces for speakers and headphones which were composed for exploring the perceptual thresholds in which musical materials are perceived as connected or disconnected from each other. I hope this work ignites curiosity in the reader, inspires creation, and motivates reflection on the meaning of space, connection, and isolation. DISCLAIMER: The webpage takes some seconds to fully load.
  open exposition comments (0)
• 
  Wave Creatures (2025) author(s): Niccolo Angioni published in: KC Research Portal
  This research explores the intersection of art and technology through the innovative use of the oscilloscope in musical composition and performance. Originally a tool for scientific and industrial applications, the oscilloscope’s ability to transform electrical signals into dynamic visual patterns offers a unique opportunity for audio-visual expression. This study is motivated by a fascination with the device’s aesthetic and philosophical potential, as well as its capacity to bridge sound and image, creating a multisensory artistic experience. The central research questions guiding this investigation are: How can the oscilloscope be incorporated into compositional practice? Can it function as both a compositional tool and a live performance instrument? Is integration with acoustic instruments feasible, and how does it operate within an ensemble context? Through a combination of historical-theoretical research and practical experimentation, this study researches how the oscilloscope can indeed serve as a tool for composition, a performative instrument, and a collaborative element in mixed acoustic-electronic ensembles. The findings highlight the oscilloscope’s potential to redefine traditional musical practices, offering new dimensions of creativity and interaction, bringing unexplored possibilities along with strict limits and challenges. This research contributes to the growing field of multimedia art, providing insights for composers and performers interested in exploring the translation of sound to image, and technology.
  open exposition comments (0)
• 
  Composing Play: 
An Investigation into Game Dynamics in Music (2025) author(s): Livia Malossi Bottignole published in: KC Research Portal
  This study dives into the realms of games and music, examining their history and the recent interest in the intersection of their features. The proliferation of research surrounding these two distinct yet interconnected fields has led to the emergence of new theories, reflections, and applications. While historical perception has commonly conceived "play" as a less serious activity, particularly in academic and artistic environments, this study explores how recent artistic movements have reclaimed its significance. Both games and music contribute to a particular cultural proliferation. Moreover, the technological landscape has further amplified the impact of these artistic endeavors, with entertainment platforms experiencing widespread dissemination and an exponential increase in user engagement. Drawing inspiration from prior research, the study aligns with other analytical frameworks while consciously narrowing its scope to the performer-composer relationship. This intentional focus aims to delve deeper into the intricacies of this dynamic without dismissing the importance of the audience, framing it as a subject of debatable relevance within the study's specific analytical scope. In conclusion, this study offers a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between games and music, shedding light on their shared history, contemporary developments, and the dynamics between performers and composers in the evolving landscape of artistic expression.
  open exposition comments (0)
• 
  The figure of Eugenia Osterberger, the forgotten Galician romantic composer (2025) author(s): Mariña Palacio Fernández published in: KC Research Portal
  Throughout our musical history, many female composers’ figures and legacies have always remained overshadowed in the male-dominated realm of 19th- and 20th-century music. Eugenia S. Osterberger (1852–1932) is one of them: a remarkable and overlooked Galician composer who blended Galician and Spanish traditional music with European academic styles. This research aims to shed light on Osterberger's life and work by performing her compositions with my instrument addressing the central question: “How can I share it engagingly with the audience?”. To carry out this project, the methodology involves a literature review of Eugenia’s context, story, and compositions; archive fieldwork to find the scores; the process of arranging and adapting her music for oboe or English horn; identification of Galician and Spanish folklore footprints and other styles in her pieces; and revision of tools for engaging audience. The culmination of this research will be to have all the essential tools to be able to create a performance that combines narration and music to bring Osterberger's legacy to life, making the audience enjoy and connect with my emotional engagement and with the composer. In addition, it is intended to make a new contribution to the repertoire for oboe and English horn and raise awareness of under-represented voices in music history, which may inspire others to rediscover forgotten composers.
  open exposition comments (1)
• 
  Experimental music for children (2025) author(s): Sigrid Sand Angelsen published in: KC Research Portal
  This research consists of the artistic and organizational process of creating a workshop called “Experimental music for children”. In this exposition you can read about how I and my fellow musicians created a workshop for children through eight workshop sessions that took place between February 2024 and January 2025. This resulted in an interactive workshop with children about co-creation, exploration and art making. In addition, this research explores how such a project affects my personal artistic development. In this exposition, you can read about the construction and development of the workshops, and how they evolved into a concrete artistic project. The data collected from the workshops was organised through the merging of critical reflection and analysis. The theoretical part of this research is based on literature and observations of experimental music, art for children and similar experimental music projects. These references serve as material for developing and concretising the artistic vision while shaping the project and ensuring its place in the artistic field as well as the realm of educational research.
  open exposition comments (1)
• 
  Cosmic Journey; Exploring the possibilities of Harp and Live-Electronics (2025) author(s): Kyra Frimout published in: KC Research Portal
  Cosmic Journey; Exploring the possibilities of Harp and Live-Electronics by Kyra Frimout. Research Question: How do I adapt the Stellar Sonata by Caroline Lizotte composed for the electroacoustic harp to a traditional acoustic pedal harp? 'Cosmic Journey' is a performance that focusses on space-themed repertoire for the harp and live-electronics, combined with visual images of NASA to enhance the audience’s experience. It explores the use of improvisation to tell the story of Kyra Frimout's grandfather Dirk Frimout, who went on his mission to space in 1992. The centre piece of this program is the Stellar Sonata, which was the inspiration for shaping this project. This research investigates the integration of live electronics with the harp by analysing 'Stellar Sonata' by Caroline Lizotte and exploring its implications for new compositions and improvisations. The study is structured in three parts. First, an in-depth examination of 'Stellar Sonata' is conducted, including an overview of Lizotte’s compositional style, her inspirations, the narrative embedded within the piece, and a detailed analysis of its musical material. The second section focuses on the technical aspects of recreating the piece’s electronic effects, assessing the required equipment while addressing challenges in replicating the sonic landscape, with updated technology. The final section explores new creative avenues that emerge from this research, including the application of live electronics to existing harp repertoire and its transformative impact on improvisation and composition. By bridging tradition with technology, this study aims to make electroacoustic music more accessible to harpists by exploring affordable equipment and practical amplification options—particularly for those seeking to perform Stellar Sonata without requiring an electroacoustic harp—while also pushing the artistic boundaries of the instrument in contemporary music. Kyra Frimout is a harpist and singer with a passion for contemporary and electroacoustic music. She studied Classical Music at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, where she is now pursuing a Master’s in New Audiences and Innovative Practice. In 2024, she studied with harpist-composer Caroline Lizotte in Montréal, deepening her understanding of electroacoustic harp techniques. Kyra explores the intersection of traditional harp performance and modern technology, integrating live electronics to expand the instrument’s expressive potential. Through her work, she seeks to redefine the role of the harp in contemporary music, using electronic effects to open new creative possibilities in both composition and improvisation.
  open exposition comments (1)