The point of origin - six essays on six pieces

Abstract

The collection of six compositions and essays outlines questions, themes and ideas pertinent to the composer’s personal musical development and artistic journey and allows the composer to define and consolidate an original language and identity that illustrates a quest to honestly account for one’s actions and decisions. The title of the thesis outlines the preoccupation to define the root from where a musical identity stems. By considering the definition of ‘music’, its fundamental building blocks and the history of its development from an ancient past, a path is forged upon which the composer’s own heritage, place of origin and wellspring of inspiration is revealed. Each composition explores elements of the composer’s language through direction, definition, measure, perception, origin and manifestation as well as significant key characteristics of a personal identity: trajectory, name, evolution, location and destination, all of which culminate to form a thumbprint that can be held by none other than the composer.