Jean Molino
Professor at the University in Lausanne, semiologist
Teacher of Jean Jacques Nattiez
Analysis Introduced the idea of semiotic analysis on three
Semiologic Tripartition levels:
Poietic
Neutral
Esthesic
Molinos exempel Poietic level
A is to B like X is to Y
All aspects of the creation of music
Tennis is to Mozart like Ikea is to Norway
the creative process
writing down, learning
the cultural environment
Analysis - poietic level The Music of the Time
Study of techniques/rules that define the poets techniques
activity at the time of the works creation strategies
Analysis of the strategies that the poet or the work the work
show to be relevant for the specific piece - create
techniques
a model for the works concpetion
strategies
Study of the composers intention/will to
communicate through the work
Reconstruct the works expressive meaning The works conception
Esthesic level Neutral level
Alla aspects of the reception of the piece
The trace
perception, cognition, interpretation (of the
listener) The neutral level is (the physical) trace of the
esthesic and poietic processes
consumption
The score, the music itself
reception history
Analysis - neutral level The essence of the work...
...is at the same time:
You choose a method without consideration of its origin,
the poietic/esthesic levels and carry out the its structure,
analysis regardless of its outcome unless you and how its perceived
have reasons to reconsider your choice of
method Therefore an all encompassing analysis
method is necessary - musical semiology
1 Context 1 Context
3 Sender 2 Message 4 Receiver 3 Sender 2 Message 4 Receiver
5 Channel 5 Channel
6 Code 6 Code
Functions Examples of expressions with focus in different categories
1. referential (contextual information) 1. referential - the autumn leaves have fallen
2. aesthetic/poetic (auto-reflection) 2. aesthetic/poetic shall I compare thee
3. emotive (self-expression) 3. emotive - wow!
4. conative (vocative or imperative addressing of receiver) 4. conative - come inside and eat!
5. phatic (checking channel working) 5. phatic - hello, bye, hmm
6. metalingual (checking code working) 6. metalingual - a sentence without a verb
Difference from
Communication Theory
Analysis on three levels
communication:
Easier to avoid the wrong conclusions based on
observations on the wrong level
sender message receiver
But neutral level remains central to the analysis!
semiology: Structural analysis appropriate (as long as it
composer music listener takes place on the neutral level)
Analysis
Neutral level
Listening Parameters
Critical Listening vs.Analytical listening
Frequencies / spectra
Hierarchies of sound structures
Time / durations / articulations
Dynamics (absolute/relative)
Sound event and Sound object
Spatialization
Perspective and Focus
Steps Other considerations
Choose piece
Semiotic - What are the sounds? What do they
Identify all sounds and layers
signify?
Classify sounds Are they identifiable? (surrogacy)
Identify sections, structures, texts, and processes
Phenomenological How does the music sound?
Draw graphic score / timeline
Textual, Socio-political, etc
Identify relevant information
Typical essay structure
Introduction
Examples Sound material
of analyses Form and structure
Space and timbre
Meaning / Reflection
Conclusions
Score example excerpts Assignment
Analyze an electroacoustic music work by doing the following:
Draw graphical score of the work
Write a 1000-word text that includes these three topics:
the works origin/composer
the works sounds, structure, meaning etc.
your personal reflection
Deadline: May 22 I want both text and score as file by e-mail (if you
have drawn by hand, please scan / photo your score)
