Counterpoint in Multi-Sensory Composition

Abstract

As a temporal art form, at the core of much musical composition lies a consideration for the everchanging relationship between materials through time. This is perceived in musical counterpoint, a technique that explores the dynamic relationship between two or more voices. This thesis considers musical composition in context with other forms of art, situating itself in the field of multi-sensory art. As discussed in this thesis, many examples of multi-sensory art lean towards complementary pairing of various sensory and temporal experiences. While a valid approach to the composition of multi-sensory art, the trend often produces works where all artforms follow a similar trajectory. This study uses a practice-based approach to explore multi-sensory composition through the lens of counterpoint, creating a new approach to developing and analysing aesthetic relationships between different sensory art forms. The composition portfolio contains three multi-sensory works comprised of an electronic musical component in relationship with visual, haptic, and gustatory art. The compositional approach is examined through discussing temporal and trajectorial aspects of each sensory art form, as well as an analysis of each work. These works explore various contrapuntal relationships in multi-sensory composition through the design of contrasting rhythmic and trajectorial elements between different art forms. Through literature review and analysis, an understanding of musical counterpoint grounds discussions of both multi-sensory analysis, and compositional process. This includes widening the definition of the ‘musical envelope’ to encompass the perceived intensity of a sensory event, and the consideration of sensory ‘interferences’ in the development of multi-sensory art. Through the composition and analysis of the three portfolio works, a contrapuntal approach to multi-sensory composition is presented that aims to provide both coherence and independence between various art forms.