INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF ELECTROACOUSTIC MUSIC IN GREEK CULTURE, THROUGH A PORTFOLIO OF ELECTROACOUSTIC MUSIC WORKS WHICH EXPLORE RELIGIOUS AND MYTHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF GREECE. by Epa Fassianos

My research investigated the practicability of diverse electroacoustic music compositional approaches which were applied in a series of works that explored specific relationships between real-world and abstracted sound materials, through the strategic use of pitched, melodic and non-pitched materials (and specific characters and behaviours of those materials) as integral elements in the compositional process. All compositions were related to Greece at many different levels, in direct or symbolic ways. My main aim was to explore all of these different levels in a musical way via electroacoustic music and to present transformed aspects of Greece. In addition, I attempted to explore new electroacoustic music territories by undertaking a journey from real-world instrumental and concrete soundworlds based on aspects of Greek culture (religion, mythology), towards abstract soundworlds. Real-world soundworlds consist of sounds, spaces and places that can potentially communicate human experiences: familiar impressions, aural images and evocations for the listener. Abstract soundworlds that emerge from real-world ones through various transformation processes also consist of particular sounds, spaces and places which can be very different compared to the ones emerging from real-world soundworlds. Developing innovative techniques and processes that explore the intersections, contrasts, connections and discourse between the two was my main overall aim.

[Table 3] Software Used and Purpose of Use.

Software Used and Purpose of Use

Recording Equipment

✓Soundman OKM II Binaural Microphone (Airplane Sounds and Piano Sounds) and two AKG Perception 150 Small-Diaphragm Condenser Microphones (Stone and Pencil Sounds): Icarus

✓Two AKG C414-XLS Condenser Microphones: Time Travel

✓AKG CK80 High-Performance Stereo Shotgun Condenser Microphone Capsule accommodated in a RØDE Blimp Wind Shield and Shock Mount System (Entwistle Reservoir) and two AKG Perception 150 Small-Diaphragm Condenser Microphones (Studio Environment): (Floghera, Piano, Guitar, Stone sounds and supplementary wood branches crackling sounds): Land of the Sirens

The presence of water and/or stone soundworlds in my three compositions (Icarus, Time Travel and Land of the Sirens), which is an indirect reference to the dominant presence of these two elements in the Greek geographical area, was the main unification aspect of these works which could be considered as a trilogy, yet, each work maintains its own features.

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