A Creative Application of Traditionalist Aesthetics to the Art of Musical Composition

Abstract

This submission for the degree of Master of Philosophy at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide, takes the form of a portfolio of creative works (musical compositions) supported by an explanatory exegesis. The Traditionalist School, sometimes also called the perennialist school, was formed by a group of thinkers writing on a number of related topics, including the philosophy of art and aesthetics. The foundational written works of the school were published between 1921 and 1953. The portfolio explores the possibility of developing approaches to the composition of new works in accordance with the doctrinal and aesthetic principles of the Traditionalist School, in particular with the aesthetic philosophy of Frithjof Schuon, one of the founding members of the school. The exegesis explains the origins, central ideas, and aesthetic philosophy of the traditionalist school and proceeds to discuss the ways in which these can be taken as a starting point for developing a compositional approach. This requires a consideration both of general aesthetic concepts, as well as compositional techniques, although the folio focuses more on the former. The completed pieces take these concepts in different directions with each offering a different set of possibilities for further artistic exploration. The following works comprise the creative portfolio: The Lights of Ibrahim for piano trio; Elivagar for string quartet; Road to the Heart: song cycle for baritone and cello; Songs of Sorrow and Light: song cycle for tenor and piano; Salve Regina for SSAATB choir.