Henry Cowell: the experimental catalyst

Author(s)

Eder Wilker Borges Pena

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo. 2022-04-18.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Artes. São Paulo
• Defense date: 2022-03-22
• Advisor: Lia Vera Tomás

Abstract

The following work aimed to ascertain the nature of Henry Cowell’s role as a catalyst of the experimental aesthetic in its broad scope. Initially, we rebuilt a theory on experimentalism which contemplates all its history and expands it to all its new issues related to its forms of expression and its condition in the contemporary era. Afterward, through the musical work of Cowell, his writings, academic writings on the composer, reports, documents, and musical criticism from his time, we listed biographical elements which could exemplify the root of the experimental thought and its motivation in molding the aesthetic thinking of the composer. With this basis, we made a discursive analysis of the role played by Cowell’s writings in the propaganda and establishing of a possible environment, in terms of public, publication, recording, realization, and recognition through three paramount pillars: the radical nationalism, the exploration of priviliged musical parameters outside of the European tradition of concert music and the poietical development of unorthodox practices that would become distinguishing features of the experimental practice. Also, we explored the relevancy of the creation of the New Music Society, originated by Cowell, responsible for most of the existing conditions of the experimental practice as an organizer of concerts, publisher of scores, recording of scores, propaganda, and financing of new composers neglected by the traditional institutions. Ultimately, we outlined an aesthetic panorama of Cowell’s music and how each of his poietical developments served as a basis and propellant reference to more radical forms of experimentalism during the second half of the twentieth century. Thus, we were able to confirm our initial hypothesis in which Cowell’s action in the world of music, in political, publishing, organizing, compositional, theoretical, academic, and interpersonal terms fulfilled its function as a catalyzer of the experimental aesthetics, being indispensable to its existence as it came to be. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/02583-7 - The experimental embryo: the gestation of a new aesthetics in Henry Cowell
• Grantee: Eder Wilker Borges Pena
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate