Space, Sound, and the Digital Organ
Date
2016-06
Authors
Bean, Alexander
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
The digital organ is a unique instrument. The acoustic pipe organ is fixed in one
location with a limited number of of stops available to the organist. In contrast, the
digital organ is mobile and, when used in combination with a computer, offers the
organist an infinite array of different sounds. Unfortunately, composers and performers
have hitherto ignored the unique capabilities of the digital organ. This paper explores
the history of the pipe organ leading to the development of the digital organ. In
addition, this paper presents a new composition created specifically for digital organ,
entitled Spatia. In my composition, I explore the possibilities of composing specifically
for digital organ. I have designed a unique set of nine organ stops for each specific
performance venue and date. Six of these stops feature sounds that are recorded from
the performance space and its surrounding locale. The three other stops feature the
sound of the full organ altered to varying degrees by the resonant frequencies of the
performance space (i.e. those pitches which sound clearest in a particular room). One
stop features the unaltered full organ sound, one stop features the full organ sound
distorted by the resonant frequencies, and the final stop features the resonant
frequencies without the full organ sound. These basic materials are formed into a
musical composition through the use of two motives and two musical transformations.
Spalia represents a wholly new form of composition with profound implications for the
future of digital organ music.
Description
104 pages. A thesis presented to the School of Music and Dance and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, Spring 2016.
Keywords
Music, Digital organ, Organ history, Pipe organ, Composition, Experimental music, Electronic music, Music technology