The Last Renaissance Man: A Cross-Disciplinary Study in Composing An Orchestral Live Documentary

Abstract

The Last Renaissance Man: A Cross-Disciplinary Study in Composing an Orchestral Live Documentary comprises a written dissertation and a multimedia concert work, framed as an ‘orchestral live documentary.’ This thesis explores the potential for modern cross- disciplinary works to integrate and elucidate non-fiction narratives within a live performance context. Domains of enquiry include live documentary practices, music and sound in documentary film, and historical representation through music composition.

The creative submission is a concert work featuring a 17-piece ensemble, enhanced with multimedia elements. This includes a distributed sound system, a large video screen positioned above the ensemble, and theatre lighting. Presented in ten distinct movements, this composition is a realisation of the polymath Dr Solomon Bard’s life story as presented through his memoir, Light and Shade: Sketches from an Uncommon Life. Ultimately, the endeavour of this composition is to bridge scholarly research through compositional practice with a contribution to the evolving catalogue of live documentary.