Spectralism is an attitude toward musical composition that emerged in 1970s Europe, particularly through the work of a group of French composers such as Gérard Grisey and Tristan Murail. Spectral music shifts attention from discrete musical categories towards notions of process, continuity, and the exploration of perceptual and cultural thresholds.
The aim of this doctoral research is to study the application of spectral techniques and attitudes into the compositional and performance practice of jazz, from the perspective of a keyboard player in the contemporary world of digital music. Piergiorgio Pirro has a particular interest in developing new sounds and harmonies that go beyond the capabilities of the equal-tempered piano, while exploring the ways that the change towards a spectral attitude affects the jazz ensemble as a creative collective.
Spectral techniques in jazz performance
Promotors: Maarten Stragier, Matthias Heyman, Michel Bisceglia
