"The Combine Score: Where Art and Notational Expression Converge"

"The Combine Score: Where Art and Notational Expression Converge"

My Compositional Combine Scores expand the canvas of communication. Composers are no longer limited to ink on paper.  We incorporate visual art, sculpture, type, photography, and a myriad of artistic disciplines into our scores, introducing a rich and dynamic visual language to music.

In the landscape of artistic innovation, the term "Combines" has carved a unique niche, much like Robert Rauschenberg's groundbreaking body of work. Coined by Jasper Johns to describe Rauschenberg's three-dimensional integration of objects into paintings, the Combine represent a captivating fusion of art and everyday life. 

Rauschenberg's Combines, initiated in 1954, revolutionized the art world by collapsing boundaries between materials, media, and disciplines. In a similar spirit, I have developed the concept of "Compositional Combines," a transformative approach where traditional notation gives way to the integration of art and three-dimensional perspectives in the articulation of musical scores.

Robert Rauschenberg's Combines are a testament to the liberating power of artistic innovation. These compositions, created between 1954 and 1964, ushered in a new era in art by defying conventional boundaries. Rauschenberg's bold approach seamlessly integrated everyday objects, from newspaper clippings to taxidermied animals, into his paintings. The result was a remarkable collapse of distinctions between the materials of artmaking and the artifacts of daily life.

Just as Rauschenberg's Combines challenged the rigid boundaries of painting and sculpture, my concept of"The Combine Score" or "Compositional Combines" seeks to redefine the traditional notational mechanisms of music. In the realm of sound, this paradigm shift invites us to explore the interplay between art, three-dimensional perspectives, and the articulation and interpretation of musical scores.

Beyond Notation: A Multidimensional Lexicon

The Compositional Combine transcends traditional notation to create a multidimensional lexicon. It embraces combustion, structural modeling, perforation, digital archetypes, typography, symbology and a wide array of expressive techniques that breathes life into score. This lexicon invites the performer to explore not just the notes but the very soul of the composition.

The core principle is the integration of visual mediums as notational devices, much like Rauschenberg's fusion of art and everyday objects. 

The result is a multisensory experience that invites the performer to engage with score in a profoundly different way. The boundaries between the visual and auditory realms blur, creating a synesthetic journey where sound is intertwined with artistic expression. Just as Rauschenberg's Combines broke down the barriers between art and everyday life, the Compositional Combine blurs the lines between art and sound.

Much like Rauschenberg's taxidermied animals and diverse objects added depth to his paintings, the three-dimensional aspects of the score introduce a sense of depth and immersion. This approach not only challenges the boundaries of traditional music but also invites performers to explore score interpretation as a multidimensional experience.

The Compositional Combine does not seek to obliterate traditional notation. It is, instead, an evolution that enriches and expands upon it. It maintains a profound respect for music's historical significance while embracing innovation and redefinition.