Musicology and Research

MMus Research Essay – Music as Sound: Applying ideas of schizophonia and soundscaping to music for the narrative Read More Honours research thesis – Music for Plays: Towards a theatrical musicology Read more , Excerpted into a journal-style article Music in Theatre Theatre Scores

Diegesis

What is diegesis? Diegesis is a term used in film music to discribe the way in which the elements of film relate to the narrative the film is telling. In film music, it is  simple way of describing the function of music: if it occurs within the world of the characters (i.e. someone could hear it) it… Continue reading Diegesis

Who does what?

So, what does everybody do? When you read a programme you can see all sorts of music related jobs, many of which sound like the same thing. I’ve provided a brief outline of the most common roles below. Of course, many of these will be done by the same person in a smaller production, and… Continue reading Who does what?

Music would be better without audiences…

The New York Philharmonic, the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States, and also the orchestra with historically the most restive audience members, has announced the planned installation of a new “Listener Speedy Exit Ramp” which will enable to patrons to leave their seats either during or after a performance in less than 2.5 seconds.… Continue reading Music would be better without audiences…

Korean Musical Theatre

This blog is mostly about western music and western theatre, but I think it provides an interesting viewpoint to look at the theatrical and musical traditions of another culture. This weeks history focus revolves around an article by ethnomusicologist Andrew Killick. He examines the various genres of traditional Korean Theatre with music, and provides an… Continue reading Korean Musical Theatre

Finding and Using (Mostly Free) Sound Effects

Finding and using the right sound effect is difficult when starting out. While sound effects libraries aim to make finding the exact right type of running-water effect a simple task, the money needed to buy and license these effects can be prohibitive. Finding Sounds Record Your Own By far the best method of getting sound effects… Continue reading Finding and Using (Mostly Free) Sound Effects

Underscoring

Underscoring (the process of accompanying speech or action with sound or music) as a science as much as it is an art. It requires a careful understanding of the action onstage and a sensitive tailoring of the music to interweave exactly with the narrative of word and action. Nowadays we are far more familiar with… Continue reading Underscoring