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