A Musical Engagement with ‘Ma’ – Japanese Aesthetics Of Space and Time

This thesis discusses my exploration of a musical engagement with ma – Japanese aesthetics
of space and time, within my Master of Arts by research portfolio of compositions. Part 1 elaborates a constellation of the concept focusing upon the key terms ‘framing’ ‘transition’ and ‘interpenetrated identity’ which provides a way of understanding this aesthetics of a heightened sense of presence. Parts 3 and 4 discuss specific techniques which have actualized these concepts within two of my recent compositions focusing upon questions about spatio-temporal relations elaborating of the ‘manifesto’ of a concise form of assertions found in Part 2. Further considerations in relation to this research are discussed in Part 5. In the conclusion, I summarize my investigation of a musical language through which I sought to
find structural analogues congruent with the concept of ma.