Hofmann, Lucas
Dissertation topic:
" Computational modelling of complex temporal and tonal structures in early twentieth-century music."
Doctoral scholarship from the Klaus Murmann Scholarship Fund of the Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft gGmbH (sdw) (1 May 2024 - 30 September 2026)
Contact address at the University of Würzburg:
Institute of Music Research
Domerschulstraße 13
97070 Würzburg
First supervisor: Prof. Dr Fabian Moss
Second supervisors:
Prof. Dr Craig Sapp (Stanford Univ.)
Class in the Graduate School: "Digital Humanities"
Doctorate in the Graduate School from WS 2023/24.
Abstract:
Intricate rhythms and metrical shifts, along with tonal peculiarities, are above all work-encompassing stylistic characteristics of several composers at the beginning of the twentieth century, such as Hugo Distler (1908-42), Béla Bartók (1881-1945) and Paul Hindemith (1895-1963). Such complex temporal structures in particular pose certain challenges to computational analysis. The thesis aims at encoding, analysing and subsequently modelling polymetrics and rhythmic ambiguities in the music of said composers within the framework of a digital corpus study. The initial focus will be on Distler's vocal music, including the collection of motets Der Jahrkreis op. 5 and his best-known work, the Mörike-Chorliederbuch op. 19, which will be studied using digital and computational methods (including statistical ones) in close exchange with music-historical and music-analytical questions. The models developed from this will be tested and optimised with the music of Bartók and Hindemith. Furthermore, considerations on the cognition of metrical shifts will be incorporated.
