The Concerto Concept: A Compositional Exploration of Conflict and Cooperation

Abstract

This submission for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide, is a creative, compositional exploration of conflict and cooperation in the concerto genre. It consists of a portfolio of four original compositions and an exegesis. Since the early days of the concerto genre, there has been a duality at its heart between the concepts of conflict and cooperation. This duality can be seen most saliently in the relationship between the soloist and accompanying ensemble and can be affected by the composer’s use of form, harmony, rhythm, and orchestration. It can even be found in the etymology of the word concerto, which either means to be in conflict, or to cooperate. This project takes insights from music history and analysis to develop an individual approach to concerto composition. Its originality lies primarily in this individual application of conflict and cooperation in the portfolio and is supported in the exegesis by an analytical and historical essay exploring how these concepts have evolved over time and how they have been applied by other composers in their work, as well as a review of selected repertoire. The remainder of the exegesis explores how these concepts were applied in the portfolio works. The portfolio contains four works: a Concerto for Clarinet and Wind Orchestra (21 minutes), a Concerto for Orchestra (27 minutes), a Concerto for Oboe and Wind Orchestra (15 minutes), and a Concerto Grosso for String Quartet and String Orchestra (and an arrangement for string quartet and double wind quintet) (12 minutes). Each work explores the concerto genre in a different way, alternating the type and number of soloists and type of ensemble. Three of the four works have received premiere performances. The Clarinet Concerto was performed in 2020 by the Elder Conservatorium Wind Orchestra, conducted by Luke Dollman, with clarinet soloist, Bailey Coates; the Concerto for Orchestra was performed in 2021 by the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Luke Dollman; and the Oboe Concerto was performed in 2022 by and the Adelaide Wind Orchestra, conducted by Bryan Griffiths, with oboe soloist Celia Craig.