Portfolio of published compositions and arrangements

McDermott, Michael

Abstract

The submission consists of a critical review to support the collection of compositions found within the portfolio of published works. The portfolio of published works (six in total) is comprised of three pieces for marching band, orchestra, choir and bagpipes, two pieces for full orchestra with choir and one piece for symphonic wind band. The portfolio provides evidence of my practice-led research and the evaluation enables me to explore some of the challenges and circumstances that have arisen during the pre- and post-production stages of the works.

The portfolio also examines the role of a musical director in the context of large-scale contemporary productions and the relationship between musical direction and all the various elements contained within those productions. Additionally, the portfolio highlights the contrasting challenges that present themselves during such large-scale events and seeks to demonstrate how those challenges may be approached, analysed and resolved when having to deal with varying levels of musical expertise that sometimes exist when organising events of this nature.

The collected work represents an addition to existing knowledge by highlighting how some assignments introduced pioneering steps forward within the wind band movement especially when combined with other musical ensembles and instruments including the Great Highland Bagpipe. Other original features of the work include the use of the wind band in combination with other musical ensembles such as the tri-service string orchestra and rock bands, exploiting professional and amateur vocal organisations and creating music to accompany the action taking place in an arena or on stage that involved hundreds of participants carrying out completely different stage instructions. Also, employing a methodology that allowed me to persuade producers and artistic directors that some elements of the performance they had initially considered to be challenging, even unachievable, (either artistically or technically), were in fact feasible if approached from an alternative and sometimes more contemporary direction.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jun 2, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 3, 2023
• Award Date: Jun 2, 2023