Timbre and Orchestration Taxonomies Workshop Report
Project Blog | Project Updates | Reports | June 1st, 2021
Timbre and Orchestration Taxonomies Workshop Report
The first Timbre and Orchestration Taxonomies Workshop was held virtually 29–31 May. Organized by ACTOR Postdocs, Lindsey Reymore, Kit Soden, and Matthew Zeller, the workshop brought together eleven scholars actively working to develop a variety of timbre and orchestration taxonomies. Over the first two days, participants gave presentations using Maurice Ravel’s Alborada del gracioso as the shared reference for each method. This pluralistic approach brought up engaging questions and facilitated discussions about the unique qualities of each taxonomic system. The third day was devoted to group discussion and proved to be intellectually stimulating and invigorating for all. Presentations included:
Félix Baril “Orchestration Techniques
Victor Cordero “Metatimbre and Orchestration”
Nathalie Hérold “Timbre Analysis of Piano Music”
Dominique Lafortune “Aural Sonology”
Fabien Lévy “Functional Orchestration”
Stephen McAdams “Taxonomy of Orchestral Grouping Effects”
Kit Soden “Orchestrational Combinations and Transformations”
Matthew Zeller “Timbral Function in Music”
Additional participants included Lindsey Reymore (moderator), Bob Hasegawa, and Jade Roth, and research assistant Holly Faria taking notes. Discussion topics included how we define taxonomy and how taxonomies are useful in timbre research, areas of methodological overlap, and where each method is situated among the pillars or axes of timbre and orchestration research. We discussed a number of terms and concepts that occur frequently in a variety of meanings and made a collective effort to determine how we can best move forward as practitioners in a complimentary fashion. Finally, we initiated discussions on how to collectively move forward, potential research outputs, and the development and expansion of the Timbre and Orchestration Taxonomies Workshop. We look forward to sharing future plans with all of ACTOR.