Visual Amplification The visual presentation of new music, practical applications in performance, curation, & composition.

Abstract

Visual Amplification, the visual presentation of new music in composition, performance and curation explores the role that visual information plays in our perception of sound and musical performance, specifically in relation to the presentation of new music (contemporary classical music). This dissertation will show that a conscious understanding of the power of context over the communication of a musical work is fundamental to creating high quality and engaging musical experiences. Through theoretical discussion, a review of current practices in the professional music community and the presentation of a collection of original creative works, the research outlines the extent to which visual stimuli can impact the reception of musical work and proposes varied strategies to incorporate this information to maximize audience engagement. The research conducted draws on interviews with Jennifer Walshe, Steven Takesugi, Simon Steen-Andersen, Darryl Buckley, David Chisholm, Stefan Prins, Daniel Lineham, & Jean-Luc Plouvier. Examples from performances curated by the author with musical groups soundinitiative and scapegoat are also used as case studies.