Decorative Timbre: Integrating characteristics of Spectral and Dastgah music

Abstract

Decorative Timbre is a portfolio of original compositions and an accompanying written dissertation. In this thesis, I propose a new musical language synthesising the expressive element of Western Spectral and Persian Dastgah music via the marriage of timbre and ornamentation. Persian and Spectral music are two fundamentally distinct musical approaches derived from different philosophies and traditions, each possessing a particular value and aesthetic. However, in researching mutual characteristics and modalities, I draw connections between the two forms of music under the concept of decorative timbre. I discuss approaches to 'converting a melody to timbre and vice versa' and offer a new compositional technique of 'excessive multilayering' that is inspired by shared commonalities in both traditions. The portfolio comprises four works that explore the application of excessive multilayering; Abalfazl, War is Peace, Let me Tune, and Beautifully Untuned Mind. The centrepiece of my creative portfolio, Panbe Zan (the cotton beater), is an experimental electroacoustic opera that recreates and recontextualizes the forgotten sounds of an obsolete profession 'Panbe Zani (Cotton Beating).' Featuring a redesigned bow-shaped instrument together with live musicians, pre-recorded and manipulated sounds, and staging, the work portrays this nostalgic scene in a modern context.