New compositional paths between Elliott Carter’s harmony and deconstructivism

Raffaele Longo
Promotors: Kristin Van den Buys, Jurgen De Pillecyn

This research by Raffaele Longo links composition to music theory from an innovative methodological standpoint. The original character of this project relies on the definition of a new paradigm in music composition. The researcher will investigate if and how the harmony of Elliott Carter ( (1908–2012) —as it was systematized in his handbook— can be the driver to explore novel composition paths by testing the values of a “new humanistic” prospect through the deconstructionist approach. Carter’s harmonic world here assumes the role of a postmodern music grammar (in the nature of a kind of “Renaissance studio”). Simultaneously, the research also attempts to innovate creatively by positing a new compositional paradigm based on the ultimate resultants of poststructuralism, all within the framework of a transformational-generative approach.