Exhalation / Expiration, a composition for a wind ensemble of thirty-four players, continues a series of musical homages by the composer honouring her father, Alexander Fol. The composition unites different musical devices to accomplish a metaphorical mapping of the infection of a healthy body with a mortal sickness, followed by the organism's gradual demise. The work's duration is twenty-one-and-a-half minutes.The design of these materials, which incorporates the form, harmony, rhythm and orchestration, applies an approach to musical semiotics informed by the philosophical doctrine of Thracian Oral Orphism, as well as by medical research on terminally ill cancer patients. The author defines two types of musical signs, the event-type and the process-type, and decides upon a musical realization thereof at the formal and structural levels. In the composition, the signs are organized as musical symbols that portray the gradual transition between the types of music symbolizing health – 'A' – and sickness – 'B' – represented by types of harmonic, rhythmic and orchestrational treatment.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Instrumentation
- Legend
- Performance notes
- Duration
- Volume 1: Score
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The composition "Exhalation / Expiration" for wind ensemble is a doctoral thesis submitted to McGill University by Alexandra Fol. This work explores the concepts of breath, life, and death through musical and sonic means. It is intended for a large ensemble of 34 musicians, highlighting a wide range of instrumental colors and dynamics.
- Exploration of breath as a metaphor for life and death
- Musical depiction of the physical process of respiration
- Use of instrumental timbres and dynamics to convey emotional states
- Emphasis on the interplay between individual instruments and the ensemble as a whole
- Integration of traditional and experimental musical techniques
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter, "Instrumentation," outlines the specific instruments and their roles in the ensemble. It provides detailed information on each instrument's part in the composition. The second chapter, "Legend," establishes a set of musical symbols and notations specific to the work, which guide the performers through the piece. The third chapter, "Performance notes," offers guidance to musicians regarding specific performance techniques and nuances. The final chapter, "Duration," simply states the total length of the work.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The composition focuses on the themes of breath, life, death, wind ensemble, instrumentation, performance techniques, and musical notation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core theme of the composition "Exhalation / Expiration"?
The work is a metaphorical mapping of a healthy body being infected with a mortal sickness and its gradual demise, explored through the concept of breath.
How large is the ensemble required for this piece?
The composition is written for a wind ensemble consisting of thirty-four players.
What is the duration of the work?
The total duration of the musical piece is approximately twenty-one-and-a-half minutes.
Which philosophical and scientific influences informed the composition?
The approach is informed by the philosophical doctrine of Thracian Oral Orphism as well as medical research on terminally ill cancer patients.
What musical techniques are used to symbolize health and sickness?
The composer defines "event-type" and "process-type" signs, using specific harmonic, rhythmic, and orchestrational treatments to represent the transition between health (A) and sickness (B).
- Arbeit zitieren
- Alexandra Fol (Autor:in), 2011, Exhalation / Expiration for Wind Ensemble, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/182417
