Timbres Selection and Mixing in Orchestral Discourse: Outline of an (Ex) Tensive Approach

Authors

  • Lucas Takeo Shimoda University of Sao Paolo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35494/topsem.2022.1.47.770

Keywords:

Extensive Syntax, Tone colour, Orchestration

Abstract

Usually defined as “tone color” or “sound fingerprint”, timbre has been often analyzed by acoustics and psychoacoustics by means of decomposition into its constituent phases. Despite its undeniable advances, such a morphological approach still cannot account for phenomena of selection and combination of timbre. In addition to the description of timbre morphology, I propose a syntagmatic approach aiming to satisfactorily explain combinatorial constraints, operable thanks to the extensive syntax operations of sorting and mixing as proposed by Claude Zilberberg (2004, 2016a, 2016b). These conceptual tools were applied to critical texts on the diachronic constitution of the European orchestra. The results point to an untapped high potential to the application of the tensive model for a semiotic account of timbre. 

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Author Biography

Lucas Takeo Shimoda, University of Sao Paolo

Professor and Researcher

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Published

2021-11-30

How to Cite

Takeo Shimoda, L. (2021). Timbres Selection and Mixing in Orchestral Discourse: Outline of an (Ex) Tensive Approach. Tópicos Del Seminario, 1(47), 119–135. https://doi.org/10.35494/topsem.2022.1.47.770