Luca Marty

PhD Project

How does the Japanese concept of Ma manifest itself in form of notated rests and influence the interpretation and composition of western art music by Japanese composers?

The aesthetic concept of Ma holds significant importance in the realm of Japanese art, encompassing various art forms, including composed classical music. As globalization took place, Ma transcended boundaries and influenced painters, architects and composers worldwide, finding its place in different disciplines in the Western world. However, the existing literature on Ma in contemporary art music remains scarce, despite its widespread use and significance.
This doctoral thesis aims to address this research gap by exploring the origins of Ma through the critical study of historical sources and examining its utilization in relation to the use and interpretation of rests in Japanese contemporary art music throughout the 20th and 21st centuries by quantitative experiments. The intent is to establish a foundation for understanding the role of rests within Japanese music and provide artists and researchers with enhanced theoretical and practical insights into the Japanese concept of Ma within the context of modern art music. The ultimate objective is to develop guidelines for culturally informed performance practices and to facilitate the analysis and therefore the understanding of compositional structures.