Cross-genre composition: encoding characters in the chamber opera I.th.Ak.A. with semiotic elements derived from commercial music genres

Samuel John Penderbayne’s dissertation explores the possibilities of a cross-genre compositional practice in contemporary music theater. At its core is the chamber opera I.th.Ak.A., whose characters are defined by musical motifs and stylistic references drawn from commercial music genres. Spanning opera, pop, semiotics, and artistic research, the volume develops a theory of musical meaning at the intersection of classical tradition and hybrid contemporary culture. An analytical yet practical study of cross-genre composition as an aesthetic strategy of the 21st century.

Open Access