Date of Submission
4-2022
Type of Work
Exegesis and Creative Work
Principal Supervisor
Dr. Toby Wren
Keywords
Space music; Music analysis; Musicology; Science fiction; Music; Sound studies; Soundscape; Music technology; Sound and space; Electronic music; Popular music; Sonic metaphor; Studio production; Cosmic music; Extra-terrestrial music; Computer music; Sonic fictions; Futurism; Music genre; Rock music; Psychedelic music; Outer space; Space age; Sound iconicity; Techno music; Synthesizers
Audience
Mature (M) - moderate impact language/themes, includes violence/nudity, not restricted to 15+
Abstract
Space Music, the sonic intersection of humankind’s fascination with outer space, sciencefiction, and Popular music, has been examined by many scholars in terms of its cultural and philosophical significance, with much of the current literature being explorations of lyrical content, and visual presentation or limited to the field of science-fiction film soundtrack and sound design. However, there has been little in the way of examination and documentation of the sonic aspects of this music.
This study is distinctive in that it focuses on representations of cosmic themes in Popular Music in sound, with a priority of identifying the ‘sonic language’ of space music by scrutinising existing musical texts from the 1950s to the present day.
The scope of the project includes the examination of many musical sub-genres, beginning with Sun Ra’s Cosmic jazz in the 1950s, through to the electronic dance music genres of the present age, in order to develop a sonic lexicon of space music sounds, resulting in a contribution to both the field of musicology and to that of music production and creation.
Through practice-led research this sonic language was creatively applied in a creative work; a compilation of music styles echoing those that have evoked the cosmic in popular music over the last seventy years. As part of this creative artefact, extensive liner notes developed for the project, provide the listener with backgrounding for the space music sub-genres and insight into how the findings of this study were practically applied.
Notes
Bandcamp Link: Sounds of Space
Space Music, the sonic intersection of humankind’s fascination with Outer Space, Science-fiction and Popular music, has been examined by many scholars in terms of its cultural and philosophical significance. However, there has been little in the way of examination and documentation of the sonic aspects of this music.
Recommended Citation
Lambert, C. (2022). Sounds of Space: Utilising the sonic language of Space Music in Music Production [Masters dissertation, SAE University College]. Creo.