RESEARCH
PhD RESEARCH
Eleanor's thesis is an interdisciplinary project which studies how composers set words to music, using a dual-method approach that integrates empirical analysis with creative practice. Focusing on liturgical texts from the Anglican tradition, the research explores whether composers across distinct historical periods have treated identical texts with consistent musical features, despite changes in style and idiom. The project aims to present perceptual and cognitive dimensions of compositional decision-making, particularly in the context of text-setting.
The thesis is organised into three parts: (1) a short literature review of research into music and language, and music and emotion; (2) a data-driven analysis of 59 musical settings of five sacred texts written between the 8th century and 2024; and (3) a portfolio of nine original choral compositions, with a commentary reflecting on the creative process. Preliminary findings suggest perceptual regularities in how certain textual elements are musically realised, implying a degree of cross-temporal consistency in expressive approaches. These patterns were formalised into “framework points” and used as stimuli for five of her original compositions. The compositional outcomes serve both as practical extensions of the analysis and as reflections on a personal perception of the relationship between music and text. By integrating empirical and creative methods, these findings strengthen the understanding of cognitive mechanisms underlying musical communication and interpretation.
This research aims to contribute to the broader discourse on composer process, music and language, music cognition, and music perception, and has much possibility for collaboration with those interested in these areas.
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