Performing musical silence: markers, gestures, and embodiments

Livingston, G.P. (2024)

Doctoral Thesis

This dissertation considers performed silences in composed music and suggests that musicians often use markers to communicate the dimensions of silence. These markers may shape, summon, or impose silence. Markers are signals or cues that may be visible, audible, or multimodal. This research consists of an archive of examples from standard and contemporary pianistic practice, as well as three case studies drawn from works of Beethoven, Cage, and Antheil.

• Silence
• Silencing
• Embodiment
• Markers
• Gesture
• John Cage
• George Antheil
• Ludwig van Beethoven
• Piano
• Dimensions of silence
• Not and knot

• All authors: Livingston, G.P.
• Supervisor: Cobussen, M.
• Co-supervisor: Creanen, P.
• Committee: Barrett, R.; Beckles Willson, R.; Groot, R. de; Laws, C.; Scott, A.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Academy of Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA), Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University
• Date: 2024-12-10