Old Dog, New Tricks for Alto Saxophone and Fixed Media

Abstract

Most repertoire for concert hall performances exists in notated form, which performers can read on stage during a performance. Since the 1950s, however, pioneers such as Stockhausen and Verese developed electronic playback elements to create musique concrète, a French term referring to a type of experimental music in which sounds are created, recorded, and manipulated electronically. Currently, contemporary music artists have used the developments of musique concrète for cinematic films, video games, DJing, and more. In this project, we will present an original composition in which a live performer will read notated sheet music, while a fixed media track influenced by musique concrète will accompany the soloist. We are using standard music notation software (Finale) in conjunction with a digital audio workstation (Logic) and a sampler featuring many effects, synths, and instruments (Native Instruments KONTAKT). Further, we will discuss various elements of musique concrète and how we used them in our composition. We started with a simple chord progression that begins with a functional approach but drifts outside the key of A minor, contrasting the typical 4-bar diatonic progressions in popular styles: (Am–Em–F–C–Ab/C–Fm–Ab–Bb–Am). We will demonstrate, with audio samples, the process and development of our composition. After presenting our research and artistic elements, our original composition, “Old Dog, New Tricks,” for solo performer and fixed media will be performed by UNG Professor of Saxophone, Dr. Bart Walters.

Keywords: fixed media, electroacoustic, acousmatic, musique concrète, solo saxophone, live performance

OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS FOR ALTO SAXOPHONE AND FIXED MEDIA