Introduction
My research continues to explore the nature of composer/performer collaborations for different styles of music and different media: from string quartet to acoustic music with live electronics, to musicians working in a recording studio. Cross-cultural collaborations bring another dimension to the relationship between notation and sound from practice-based, empirical and theoretical perspectives. In addition to musicians reflecting on their own practice, an interdisciplinary approach involves research methodologies from anthropology, psychology, sociology and linguistics.
I am currently supervising a PhD on ‘Creative interaction and collaborative process in contemporary music and its performance’ and co-supervising a practice-based PhD on ‘Infinite process in finite form’.
The Centre for Musical Research encompasses all our research in Music at Bath Spa and is organised by composer James Saunders. A wide variety of visiting speakers, staff and PhD researchers contribute to the weekly research forum series. Recent visitors related to our research specialisms include Joanna Bailie, Gavin Bryars, Jem Finer, Kathy Hinde, Phill Niblock, Michael Pisaro, Howard Skempton, Matthew Shlomowitz, Tom Armstrong and Nicola Meecham. We have strong interdisciplinary links with our Dance and Performing Arts departments, as well as with the Centre for Creative Computing, which is run by composer Andrew Hugill.
If you would like to apply for a PhD please look at the Graduate School application information or email me.
My recent and current projects:
From Composition to Performance: innovations and interactions in contemporary string quartets
Funded by a British Academy Larger Research Grant (2007-2009)
Evolution and collaboration: the composition, rehearsal and performance of Finnissy’s Second String Quartet
Funded by a PALATINE Development Award in 2009
Rehearsal Analysis of Finnissy’s Third String Quartet
Funded by a British Academy small research grant in 2011
Performance in the Studio
AHRC Research Network Scheme led by Simon Zagorski-Thomas (University of West London) in 2012-13
Page to Stage
An app that adds dynamic and informative layers of content and texture to classical musical performance (2013-14)
Cross-cultural exchanges: mbira and string quartet
Funded by Arts Council England (2014-15)