Bridging the Great Divide: An Exploration of Postmodernism in the Guitar Music of Nigel Westlake
This research explores the tension between ‘elite’ and ‘popular’ musical styles in eight significant works of guitar music by Australian composer Nigel Westlake; namely Antarctica, Songs from the Forest, The Hinchinbrook Riffs, Six Fish, Shadow Dances, Shards of Jaisalmer, Jovian Moons, and Mosstroo...
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Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia
2017
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ftedithcowan:oai:ro.ecu.edu.au:theses-3002 2023-09-26T15:10:34+02:00 Bridging the Great Divide: An Exploration of Postmodernism in the Guitar Music of Nigel Westlake Fitzgerald, Melissa Claire 2017-01-01T08:00:00Z application/pdf https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2000 https://ro.ecu.edu.au/context/theses/article/3002/viewcontent/Melissa_Fitzgerald___Bridging_the_Great_Divide_exegesis_Redacted.pdf unknown Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2000 https://ro.ecu.edu.au/context/theses/article/3002/viewcontent/Melissa_Fitzgerald___Bridging_the_Great_Divide_exegesis_Redacted.pdf Theses: Doctorates and Masters Nigel Westlake classical guitar Australian music octatonicism minimalism Music Theatre and Performance Studies thesis 2017 ftedithcowan 2023-08-26T22:48:25Z This research explores the tension between ‘elite’ and ‘popular’ musical styles in eight significant works of guitar music by Australian composer Nigel Westlake; namely Antarctica, Songs from the Forest, The Hinchinbrook Riffs, Six Fish, Shadow Dances, Shards of Jaisalmer, Jovian Moons, and Mosstrooper Peak. Through detailed analysis and recorded musical performances, consideration is given to the extent that these works bridge the aesthetic divide identified by Adorno, Jameson, Huyssen, and others; exploring their potential conformity to notions of postmodernity in music. The argument is advanced that Westlake has created a musical language that simultaneously combines sophistication and mainstream appeal. Illumination is made of many significant details of Westlake’s guitar music—including rock guitar techniques, harmonic formulations from popular music, and the extensive use of the more esoteric idiom of octatonicism—which provide a foundation for future analysis, evaluation, and performance of Westlake’s music. The creative research component comprises two audio CDs containing edited studio recordings of six works featuring the classical guitar in both a solo and ensemble setting, as well as documentation of other live performances. Thesis Antarc* Antarctica Edith Cowan University (ECU, Australia): Research Online |
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Edith Cowan University (ECU, Australia): Research Online |
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Nigel Westlake classical guitar Australian music octatonicism minimalism Music Theatre and Performance Studies |
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Nigel Westlake classical guitar Australian music octatonicism minimalism Music Theatre and Performance Studies Fitzgerald, Melissa Claire Bridging the Great Divide: An Exploration of Postmodernism in the Guitar Music of Nigel Westlake |
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Nigel Westlake classical guitar Australian music octatonicism minimalism Music Theatre and Performance Studies |
description |
This research explores the tension between ‘elite’ and ‘popular’ musical styles in eight significant works of guitar music by Australian composer Nigel Westlake; namely Antarctica, Songs from the Forest, The Hinchinbrook Riffs, Six Fish, Shadow Dances, Shards of Jaisalmer, Jovian Moons, and Mosstrooper Peak. Through detailed analysis and recorded musical performances, consideration is given to the extent that these works bridge the aesthetic divide identified by Adorno, Jameson, Huyssen, and others; exploring their potential conformity to notions of postmodernity in music. The argument is advanced that Westlake has created a musical language that simultaneously combines sophistication and mainstream appeal. Illumination is made of many significant details of Westlake’s guitar music—including rock guitar techniques, harmonic formulations from popular music, and the extensive use of the more esoteric idiom of octatonicism—which provide a foundation for future analysis, evaluation, and performance of Westlake’s music. The creative research component comprises two audio CDs containing edited studio recordings of six works featuring the classical guitar in both a solo and ensemble setting, as well as documentation of other live performances. |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Fitzgerald, Melissa Claire |
author_facet |
Fitzgerald, Melissa Claire |
author_sort |
Fitzgerald, Melissa Claire |
title |
Bridging the Great Divide: An Exploration of Postmodernism in the Guitar Music of Nigel Westlake |
title_short |
Bridging the Great Divide: An Exploration of Postmodernism in the Guitar Music of Nigel Westlake |
title_full |
Bridging the Great Divide: An Exploration of Postmodernism in the Guitar Music of Nigel Westlake |
title_fullStr |
Bridging the Great Divide: An Exploration of Postmodernism in the Guitar Music of Nigel Westlake |
title_full_unstemmed |
Bridging the Great Divide: An Exploration of Postmodernism in the Guitar Music of Nigel Westlake |
title_sort |
bridging the great divide: an exploration of postmodernism in the guitar music of nigel westlake |
publisher |
Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2000 https://ro.ecu.edu.au/context/theses/article/3002/viewcontent/Melissa_Fitzgerald___Bridging_the_Great_Divide_exegesis_Redacted.pdf |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica |
op_source |
Theses: Doctorates and Masters |
op_relation |
https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2000 https://ro.ecu.edu.au/context/theses/article/3002/viewcontent/Melissa_Fitzgerald___Bridging_the_Great_Divide_exegesis_Redacted.pdf |
_version_ |
1778145523577913344 |