Portfolio of compositions

This thesis and portfolio of compositions is an investigation into the possibilities of reusing ideas from past music, specifically those used in the field of dance. It looks at the role neoclassical ideas can have in postmodern music, particularly the reworking of Stravinskian techniques. Alongside this it investigates the ways in which postmodern composers can engage their audience (including the use of rhythmic repetition and ostinati and recognisable patterns) and the role of the performer. It also looks into the role of the musical work in an holistic way, considering the perceptions of the audience in live performance, particularly with regards the visual aspect of a performance. In addition, the ideas of Roger Scruton regarding the act of listening and understanding music are investigated, and his notion of 'dancing in an imagined space' is explored