Document Type
Creative Work
ANZSRC / FoR Code
1904 PERFORMING ARTS AND CREATIVE WRITING
COinS
Creative Work
1904 PERFORMING ARTS AND CREATIVE WRITING
Publication Details
Ingham, S. F. (2002). Maroondah Merzbau (for organ and tape). [Score]
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RESEARCH IMPACT STATEMENT
Research Background
As a composer and musician engaged in practice-based research at the tertiary level for over thirty-five years, my original creative works have served to extend and develop various genres of acoustic and electroacoustic music. These works have been performed, and in many cases commissioned, by performers of the highest international calibre. Subsequently they have been broadcast and disseminated both nationally and internationally via recordings and scores. The research aim of this project was to “re-orchestrate” one of my earlier chamber works for the highly unusual medium of pipe organ and pre-recorded electronics, resulting in the production of a totally new musical work with little resemblance to the source.
Research Contribution
Maroondah Merzbau was influenced by the writings and creative practice of the German collage artist Kurt Schwitters (1887-1948). The musical elements of an earlier chamber work of mine were disassembled and re-composed, using the live sounds of an organ plus MIDI sequenced synthethic sounds. In performance these sounds are blended together via spatialized diffusion over loudspeaker clusters.
Research Significance
This work has proved to be an important addition to the contemporary organists’ repertoire. Calvin Bowman (Australia), Hans-Ola Ericsson (Sweden), Randall Harlow (USA) and René Uijlenhoet (Holland) are among the many performers of this work. This work has been referenced in a paper by the prominent American musicologist Per Broman in the journal Perspectives of New Music entitled “Touching Up the Paint or a Complete Vinyl Residing? Reflections over Meta-Scientific Problems in Music Theory”.