WRITINGS
WANG Hsiao-Lan
Aesthetic and technical analysis on "Soar!"
Edition: D.M.A., University of North Texas, 98p.
Date: 2010
Region: UNITED STATES
Origin: UNITED STATES
Type of media: Grey
Language: English
Editor: M.B.
Comment: Author is from Taiwan.
Abstract:
Soar! is a musical composition written for wind ensemble and computer music. The total duration of the work is approximately 10 minutes. Flocking behavior of migratory birds serves as the most prominent influence on the imagery and local structure of the composition. The cyclical nature of the birds' journey inspires palindromic designs in the temporal domain.
Aesthetically, Soar! portrays the fluid shapes of the flocks with numerous grains in the sounds. This effect is achieved by giving individual parts high degree of independence, especially in regards to rhythm. Technically, Soar! explores various interactions among instrumental lines in a wind ensemble, constructs overarching symmetrical structures, and integrates a large ensemble with computer music.
The conductor acts as the leader at several improvisational moments in Soar! The use of conductor-initiated musical events in the piece can be traced back through the historic lineage of aleatoric compositions since the middle of the twentieth century.