Exploring the Overtone Series through Contemporary Spectral Music
Session Title
Performances
College
College of Visual and Performing Arts
Department
Music
Faculty Mentor
Justin Isenhour, D.M.A.
Abstract
The overtone series is a musical concept that helps explain how certain pitch frequencies create microtones. Although these pitches are not being physically played by the performer, there are slight tones that are present beneath the harmonic textures of the overtone series. Spectral music began to explore this theoretical concept throughout the mid-20th century. The composer Gérard Grisey (1946-1989) was a pioneer of this genre and is known for his composition Partiels (1975). This orchestral work is composed by manipulating the overtone series throughout the orchestra; this all being based upon the E1 note on the trombone that is recurrently stated throughout the piece. The creativity regarding the overtone series that Gérard Grisey exhibited with his spectral works led James M. David (b.1978) to create a solo piece for trombone titled Partiels 2 (2016). This composition uses electronics to accompany the trombone- this is intended to recreate the composition techniques that Grisey originally presented. Partiels 2 is not only meant to utilize the overtone series as spectral composers did; this piece is an homage to titling practice used by horror movie directors in the 1980s. Horror films would do significantly well during this time and sequels would be directed that have no direct correlation to the original film. These sequel films typically being low-budget allowed for notoriety to be gained from the title instead of the content. Partiels 2 attempts to recreate this form of art with the original Partiels, by Gérard Grisey, being the initial ‘block-buster hit’. Keywords: overtone series, spectral music, trombone, Gérard Grisey, harmonic series, performance
Course Assignment
MUSR 312 - Koehler
Type of Presentation
Performance of my creative work
Exploring the Overtone Series through Contemporary Spectral Music
The overtone series is a musical concept that helps explain how certain pitch frequencies create microtones. Although these pitches are not being physically played by the performer, there are slight tones that are present beneath the harmonic textures of the overtone series. Spectral music began to explore this theoretical concept throughout the mid-20th century. The composer Gérard Grisey (1946-1989) was a pioneer of this genre and is known for his composition Partiels (1975). This orchestral work is composed by manipulating the overtone series throughout the orchestra; this all being based upon the E1 note on the trombone that is recurrently stated throughout the piece. The creativity regarding the overtone series that Gérard Grisey exhibited with his spectral works led James M. David (b.1978) to create a solo piece for trombone titled Partiels 2 (2016). This composition uses electronics to accompany the trombone- this is intended to recreate the composition techniques that Grisey originally presented. Partiels 2 is not only meant to utilize the overtone series as spectral composers did; this piece is an homage to titling practice used by horror movie directors in the 1980s. Horror films would do significantly well during this time and sequels would be directed that have no direct correlation to the original film. These sequel films typically being low-budget allowed for notoriety to be gained from the title instead of the content. Partiels 2 attempts to recreate this form of art with the original Partiels, by Gérard Grisey, being the initial ‘block-buster hit’. Keywords: overtone series, spectral music, trombone, Gérard Grisey, harmonic series, performance
