Portfolio of Music Compositions

This PhD folio is a development of my previous compositional background, especially of works composed during the years 2005-2008 including specific works from my Masters degree years at the University of York. That period is characterised by compositional research on folk modes, used as prime pitch material to develop various kinds of structures. Inspired on the one hand by the sounds of George Crumb, Salvatore Sciarrino, Helmut Lachenmann and on the other by the sounds of Gerard Grisey, Tristan Murail and Kaja Saariaho, this research focuses on the exploration and the invention of artistic ways that modal aspects can be extracted from spectrality and vice versa. The target of my research is to extend these two different sound worlds and find or invent methods by which modality can be extracted from spectrality and vice versa in an artistic framework. This methodology has been developed on several levels and applied to various instrumentations including solo instruments, chamber ensembles and orchestra. My main compositional concerns were the spectral harmony organisation, texture manipulation, melodic shaping, and timbre exploration. Regarding the harmony organisation, various mathematical models are usually used to produce primary chordal material based on harmonic and non harmonic spectra or on other chord sequences constructed using spectral techniques such as Frequency Interpolation, Frequency Modulation, Frequency Distortion and others, created in the IRCAM’s OpenMusic software. My initial research plan was to develop my artistic voice following a trajectory which included various instrumental levels. My main target was to explore how my compositional propositions work on solo instruments, duets, ensembles of four, six, eight and eleven instruments respectively, and finally symphony orchestra, creating a bridge between two different traditions and exploring possible combinations in order to produce new works.

Works in chronological order:

Aoide for chamber ensemble (2007-2008)

Eteromorphia for Violoncello and Piano (2008)

a4 for Flute, Bass Clarinet, Percussion and Piano (2008)

Concerto for Piccolo/Alto Flute and chamber orchestra (2008-2009)

Tu Solus I-IV for solo Tenor Recorder, Timpani, Flute and Mandolin respectively (2009-2010)

Octaphonia for chamber ensemble (2009)

Echosymplokon for symphony orchestra (2009-2010)

Inertial Motion for chamber ensemble (2010)