The Four Domains: New Creative Processes for Intersections Between Jazz Composition and Performance

Description

PhD by Ross McHenry

Abstract:
This creative portfolio of sound recordings, scores and explanatory exegesis, submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide, consists of five separate composition and recording projects for different jazz ensembles. The submission is from an experienced jazz bassist and composer with an active career as a performer and composer across multiple areas of contemporary music practice. The diverse understanding of multiple areas of contemporary music practice has strongly informed the approach to the submitted works. Central to this investigation has been the concept of four interrelated ‘domains’ for negotiating the complex and multi-faceted creative process that applies to the composition of new works in the jazz tradition that lie at the intersection between composition and performance. The synthesis of these four compositional domains is original to the author and is presented here for the first time. They are: Composer-Creator, Composer-Curator, Composer-Performer and Composer-Producer. The portfolio of original sound recordings and scores demonstrates the outcome of the four intersecting domains in creative practice and includes both original compositions and performances by the author. This study presents an integrated model that can be used as a resource by other contemporary musicians for the conceptualisation of the composition process from the beginning of a creative idea through to the culmination of creative works in a recorded music context. Through this practice-based project, the findings of the research have been applied to the creative process, from the inception of compositional ideas, through to their final iteration as a part of a portfolio of five CD sound recordings.

Period	2021
Examinee	Ross McHenry
Degree of Recognition	International