This project explores music, time, and timelessness identifying various forms and techniques by various contemporary classical composers, and asks how a composer can utilise these and what impact do works created with them have on listeners perceptions of temporality in my electronic, acousmatic compositions. A number of defining texts outlining some of the seminal approaches to music, time and temporality are reviewed and the forms and techniques are identified. Works that provide examples of the forms and techniques are noted.
Through my compositional practice and working within the ambient genre, I employ some of these forms and techniques, creating works that impact on listener’s perceptions of time. As an outcome of this project a portfolio of six works is created and provided to a listening community to engage with and comment on. This offers a better understanding of the impact of these forms and techniques on listeners perceptions of temporality.
The project is associated with practice-led research and is located within the fields of creativity, phenomenology and lived experience. Surveys are implemented to support engagement with and through review and classification of data gathered a deeper exploration of the impact of each work upon the listening community occurs. The use of technology and its role within project is examined, highlighting the role of the computer and its application and use in the creation of the six works is undertaken within the project.
Discussion of each work within the portfolio is undertaken, noting the inspirations, the techniques and form of the work and a presentation of the listeners reactions to each work in relation to temporality, emotional, images and narrative perceptions occurs. In a broader and more holistic manner further discussion of the survey responses and the works is undertaken in a investigating the similarities and differences across the works. The outcomes from this project demonstrate that for many listeners there is an impact on their perceptions of temporality. Finally, the project is placed within the wider research space and a number of future directions are briefly canvassed.