Merry Christmas

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  This is a special time for many of us as we are able to spend time with our family and friends.  This is a time of year that I always cherish.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Color Music Composers

I figured that it would be good idea if I started this blog off by listing the important composers who have pieces that are important in defining color music.  This is not an all-inclusive list.  There are many more composers that I could reference.  I believe that this would be a good starting point for defining color music.

Bartók, Béla
Berg, Alban
Berio, Luciano
Boulez, Pierre
Debussy, Claude
Dusapin, Pascal
Dutilleux, Henri
Grisey, Gerard
Ligeti, György
Lutoslawski, Witold
Messiaen, Olivier
Murail, Tristan
Penderecki, Krzysztof
Rautavaara, Einojuhani
Saariaho, Kaija
Schoenberg, Arnold
Schwantner, Joseph
Scriabin, Alexander
Takemitsu, Toru
Tan Dun
Torke, Michael
Varése, Edgard
Webern, Anton
Xenakis, Iannis

Edit: December 11 @ 9:40 p.m.
Added Michael Torke to the list per Robert's suggestion.

Approach towards defining color music

Below is the introductory paragraph I wrote when I began my research into color music.  This paragraph identifies my approach to creating the initial definition of color music.

One of the trends of twentieth-century composition has been the shift of focus in music from harmony and melody to timbre and pitch. This type of composition is often referred to as “color music.” In order to begin the process of defining “color music,” I will define a variety of subcategories from which this music is derived. Such subcategories include: Klangfarbenmelodie, micropolyphony, timbral manipulation, and spectral music. The subcategories explored in this paper are not all inclusive. Instead, I will identify and define what I consider to be the major subcategories in an attempt to create a definition of “color music.”

Disclaimer

The concept of color music is not an original one. I do not take credit for creating the term or genre. My purpose is to create a definition for the term, highlight the components that go into creating color music and identify composers and compositions the help to further define color music. The pieces and composers that I identify as color music will go into developing a listening list for this genre.

Intent of this blog

Color and Music has been an area of interest of mine for at least the past five years.  I even began to do quite a bit of research on this topic when I was working towards a PhD at the University of Oregon.  I thought that it was time to create an outlet for this research.  My intent for this blog is to create a definition for "color music," provide examples of music in this genre, discuss the pieces presented, talk about the techniques used to create "color music" and talk about this genre in terms of my own compositions.