Musical enquiries : a portfolio of compositions

Abstract

This volume shows in five chapters how four contrasting works featuring a variety of musical media were inspired by the unifying theme of Philosophy. Part I - Musical language and techniques - discusses the musical language that is employed throughout the portfolio and the procedures used to link music to extra musical references. The following parts explore in more detail how each link was formed through musical analysis, and compare and contrast the works of other composers who either employed similar musical forces, language, or programme. In addition to this, the approach, concept and technique of each piece is also discussed. Part II is a piano suite built from reflections on contrasting notions on three philosophical questions about delusions, which form part of Philosophy of Mind and Philosophy of Psychology. Part III features the largest medium used in the portfolio, a full orchestra, inspired from an extensive number of views about what constitutes justice. In Part IV a mixed ensemble is used to create four miniatures based on existentialist concepts. Part V is constructed from two songs incorporating a choir, two soloists, a piano, and is based on original poems which symbolise two diverging thoughts on the nature of time. Volume two presents the scores of these works in four parts. The word "philosophy" literally means "love of wisdom" and is defined as the study of general and fundamental problems that are connected to reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind and language. It is concerned with addressing such problems through a critical, generally systematic approach, and relies on rational argument. The inspiration to combine music and philosophy emerged from studying the relationship between music and philosophy. Historically the connection is implicit, as when music has been associated with the divine in the context of magical incantations and dances. At other times, the connection has been more explicitly theory-linked, as in the case of many philosophers who have relied on musical concepts, experiences and practices to elaborate theories of ethics, metaphysics and philosophical psychology as well as other philosophical enquires into the general order of things.