Sonic interventions: Portfolio of compositions with commentary

Abstract

This practice research project aims to explore the relationship between music and audience by addressing the following questions:

o In what ways can one write and present music in a way that allows it to exist as part of its environment — without necessarily drawing attention to itself?
o How can music exist in a similarly quiet, ‘passive’ way that an object or a sculpture exists within its surroundings?
o In a typical concert hall situation, where the environment is designed and planned to draw an audience’s attention to the music and to the performer(s), to what extent is it possible for music to blend into its surroundings, and in a sense draw attention away from itself to the wider environment? How do these ideas work differently within a concert situation compared to open public spaces?

These questions are investigated by way of a portfolio of compositions for various instruments and ensembles, including fixed media. The pieces contained within the portfolio are thus intended to make changes to a situation — sometimes noticeable, sometimes not — without expecting a particular reaction. I choose to borrow a term from the ceramic artist Edmund de Waal to characterise this intent: the creation of ‘interventions’ within an environment. My portfolio can therefore be regarded as a set of ‘sonic interventions’. While the commentary presents the research narrative within the artistic output, it is the compositions themselves that are the focus of this submission, the sonic interventions which seek to respond to the creative challenges above.

Metadata

Supervisors:	Brooks, William and Suckling, Martin
Related URLs:	Related publication
Keywords:	Music; Contemporary Music; Composition; Performance; Public Art; Installation Art; Instrumental Music; Electronic Music; Concert Music; Concert Venues; Audience Experience;
Awarding institution:	University of York
Academic Units:	The University of York > School of Arts and Creative Technologies (York)
Academic unit:	Music
Date Deposited:	13 Apr 2026 08:57
Last Modified:	13 Apr 2026 08:57
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID):	oai:etheses.whiterose.ac.uk:38455

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Filename: Palser_204033731_1.1. rotations (score).pdf

Description: Musical score for 'rotations'

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_1.2. rotations (video).mp4

Description: Video recording of 'rotations' (performed by Dominic Floyd and James Redelinghuys)

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Filename: Palser_204033731_2.1. aus dem Leeren (score).pdf

Description: Musical score for 'aus dem Leeren'

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Examined Thesis (PDF)

Filename: Palser_204033731_3.1. for Hong _ canopy (score).pdf

Description: Musical score for 'for Hong / canopy'

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_3.2. for Hong _ canopy (video).mov

Description: Video recording of 'for Hong / canopy' (performed by Tee Hong Chu)

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Examined Thesis (PDF)

Filename: Palser_204033731_4.1. Piece for Drum Kit (score).pdf

Description: Musical score for 'Piece for Drum Kit'

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_4.2. Piece for Drum Kit (audio).wav

Description: Sound recording of 'Piece for Drum Kit' (performed by Andrew Blackwell)

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Filename: Palser_204033731_5.1 piece for gamelan and viol consort ed.2025 (score).pdf

Description: Musical score for 'piece for Gamelan and Viol Consort'

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_5.2 piece for gamelan and viol consort (minus garap) (audio).wav

Description: Sound recording of 'piece for Gamelan and Viol Consort' (performed by Gamelan Sekar Petak and York Consort of Viols)

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_5.3. piece for gamelan and viol consort (Original opening segment with gradual garap elaboration) (audio).MP3

Description: Sound recording of 'piece for Gamelan and Viol Consort' (fragment 1) (performed by Gamelan Sekar Petak and York Consort of Viols)

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_5.4 piece for gamelan and viol consort (Gamelan Part Bar 273 to end. Incl. Garap) (audio).mp3

Description: Sound recording of 'piece for Gamelan and Viol Consort' (fragment 2) (performed by Gamelan Sekar Petak)

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_6.1. Maja Palser_Marega Palser Passage short (video).mp4

Description: Video of 'passage' (created in collaboration with Marega Palser (performer)) (short excerpt)

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_6.2.1 Maja Palser Marega Palser Passage long (video) (1).mp4

Description: Video recording of 'passage' (created in collaboration with Marega Palser (performer)) (full-length, part 1)

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_6.2.2 Maja Palser Marega Palser Passage long (video) (2).mp4

Description: Video recording of 'passage' (created in collaboration with Marega Palser (performer)) (full-length, part 2)

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_6.2.3 Maja Palser Marega Palser Passage long (video) (3).mp4

Description: Video recording of 'passage' (created in collaboration with Marega Palser (performer)) (full-length, part 3)

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_6.2.4 Maja Palser Marega Palser Passage long (video) (4).mp4

Description: Video recording of 'passage' (created in collaboration with Marega Palser (performer)) (full-length, part 4)

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_7.1.. Maja Palser_Andrew Bolton Linear Expansion (video).mov

Description: Original video of 'Linear Expansion' (created in collaboration with Andrew Bolton (visuals)

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Supplementary Material

Filename: Palser_204033731_7.2. Maja Palser_Andrew Bolton Linear Expansion York (video).mov

Description: Video recording of 'Linear Expansion' (created in collaboration with Andrew Bolton (visuals)) (installation)

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Sonic interventions: Portfolio of compositions with commentary

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