Abstracts Category : Other

Boulez +: New Music for Violin and Electronics in Brazil an Analysis of Scriptio and TransScriptio by Flo Menezes

by Ivan Paulasantosmachadodan

In spite of many adversities, such as lack of funding, few professional ensembles specializing in playing new music, and the small number of concerts showcasing new composers, Brazilian composers have been creating an impressive number of outstanding works in the past few years. One can argue that the new music scene is having one of its best periods in recent decades with several initiatives that are being implemented pointing to a better future for contemporary music in the country. The topic of this thesis is one of these initiatives, the DVD Boulez +, part of a series of new recordings combining seminal works of the 20th Century with music created by Brazilian composers in dialogue with these important works. Through a detailed analysis of Scriptio and its live electronics double TransScriptio, by Flo Menezes, I discuss the importance of the works not only within the composer???s catalogue, but also as a representing work of the quality of new music being produced in Brazil at the moment. The reasons to choose this work for the analysis and not one of the other compositions in the Boulez + DVD were first the importance of Menezes as a pioneer of electronic music in Brazil and as a composer both in Brazil and internationally, being one of the most acclaimed Brazilian avant-garde composer, having received several awards and published many books and articles. Secondly, Menezes, who holds a teaching position in one of the most respected universities in Brazil, has been for the past two decades an important mentor for many of the young composers seeking to develop an aesthetic style of complexity and experimentalism, particularly in electroacoustic music. Therefore, works of the caliber of Scriptio and TransScriptio are certain to impact the creations of the new generation of Brazilian composers.Advisors/Committee Members: Gamma, Lorenz A (advisor), Roscetti, Diane H (committee member).