UC San Diego

The goal of this paper is to examine the nature of subjectivity as it relates to my practice as a composer and performer, especially in the use of appropriated materials and recognizable cultural forms in the creation of new expressive outlets. Specifically I will discuss the ways in which recognizable cultural artifacts are used as musical materials in my work, as well as the ways in which the audience’s expectations in culturally familiar situations may be exploited or subverted. I will also explore the natural or vernacular qualities in my work, and the relationship between these qualities and Appalachian folk styles.

These discussion will center around several recent projects, including recent collaborative work Pocket Music, a small set of recorded folk tune arrangements, and various notated concert pieces from the past few years. These works have been selected because they typify the diversity of approaches I have taken in working with the above-mentioned ideas. A secondary goal is to examine some of the risks and benefits of working with appropriated materials in a highly personalized way, including a discussion of language and its relationship to style, as well as the ways in which pervious experiences can be combined.