Dissertation
Chronoscape: the lake for sinfonietta
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Spring 2025
DOI: 10.25820/etd.007959
Abstract
‘‘Chronoscape: The Lake’’ is a musical composition for chamber ensemble that seeks to depict the ever-changing appearance of a lake over the course of a day, expressed through the interplay of light and shadow. The piece is written as a single movement consisting of five sections, each inspired by a specific time of day: the early dawn as it brightens with the rising sun, the scattered light irregularly reflected through morning mist on the lake, the intense golden rays of midday, the evening twilight when shadows stretch across the horizon, and finally, the shimmering moonlight reflected in the silver fog of night.The musical material is based on the overtone series of G and Ab, gradually layering pitches to form dense sound masses in the slow sections. In contrast, the fast sections focus on repetition as a primary material, incorporating minimalistic elements such as timbral shifts, dynamic variation, rhythmic layering, and dramatic tension to create musical contrast with the slow sections. The piece aims to directly express the balance of light and shadow, while also portraying the landscape of the lake as it transforms throughout the day using a variety of musical textures and techniques.
Since the beginning of my musical journey, I have always searched for a music that is truly my own. I studied many works—imitating and referencing them—and through that process, I experienced a wide range of emotions: things I admired, things I wished to avoid, and everything in between. Through these experiences, I was able to identify the music that I genuinely wish to pursue. This piece represents that pursuit at this very moment. It is the music I am seeking now—and, in many ways, it is a reflection of who I am.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Chronoscape: the lake for sinfonietta
- Creators
- Jin Won Kim
- Contributors
- David Gompper (Advisor)Jean-François Charles (Committee Member)Sam Young (Committee Member)Matthew Arndt (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Music (Composition)
- Date degree season
- Spring 2025
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.007959
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- v, 75 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2025 Jin Won Kim
- Comment
- This thesis has been optimized for improved web viewing. If you require the original version, contact the University Archives at the University of Iowa: https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc/contact/
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 04/25/2025
- Public Abstract (ETD)
”Chronoscape: The Lake” is a piece of music written for a small group of instruments. It tells the story of how a lake changes throughout the day, from morning to night. The music was inspired by the way light and shadow move and shift as time passes.
The piece has five connected parts and uses special sound techniques based on natural vibrations called overtones, especially from the notes G and Ab. It mixes two styles – spectral music, which focuses on sound color and resonance, and minimalism, which uses repeating patterns and slow changes.
This work shows not only how the lake’s scenery transforms but also expresses the composer’s personal journey to find a unique and honest musical voice.
- Academic Unit
- School of Music
- Record Identifier
- 9984831022502771
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