Developing a Personal Vocabulary for Solo Double Bass Through Assimilation of Extended Techniques and Preparations

Abstract

This research focuses on the development of a personal musical idiolect for solo double bass through the assimilation of extended techniques and preparations. The research documents the process from inception to creative output. Through an emergent, practice-led initial research phase, I fashion a developmental framework for assimilating new techniques and preparations into my musical vocabulary. The developmental framework has the potential to be linear, reflexive or flexible depending on context, and as such the tangible outcomes can be either finished creative works, development of new techniques, or knowledge about organisational aspects of placing the techniques in musical settings. Analysis of creative works is an integral part of the developmental framework and forms the bulk of this dissertation. The analytical essays within contain new knowledge about extended techniques, their potential and limitations, and realities inherent in their use in both compositional and improvisational contexts. Video, audio, notation and photos are embedded throughout the dissertation and form an integral part of the research project. Engagement with the media at appropriate junctures in the analysis is intended to enhance the narrative of the dissertation and facilitate a greater comprehension of the knowledge contained therein.