Negotiating the cross-cultural implications of the electric guitar in contemporary concert music

Abstract

Despite its ubiquity in rock and popular music, use of the electric guitar has only become commonplace within ‘classical’ concert music in recent decades. This increased prominence is partly due to the expanded sonic possibilities that the instrument offers, but also reflects composers’ greater willingness to engage with popular music practices. Use of the electric guitar in concert music often involves some form of encounter between contemporary compositional approaches and popular forms of cultural expression, presenting creative possibilities and challenges to composers, performers, listeners and scholars alike.

This research project investigates the cross-cultural implications of employing the electric guitar in concert music through theory, analysis and composition. Case studies of electric guitar works by Tristan Murail and Laurence Crane provide an opportunity to consider how popular music scholarship relating to the electric guitar might figure in analysis of concert music featuring the instrument. These analyses informed the composition of four new works within the included portfolio (provided as scores with accompanying audio/video documentation) that feature the electric guitar or draw upon its related musical idioms, with a specific focus on rock and heavy metal styles.

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