Theorematic music composition as a lens for urban design, psychogeography and community

Abstract

We all live in cities that has evolved and shaped by our societal patterns. Though neighborhoods and cities might look designed and thought for, the paths of individuals usually differ and disregard these initial designs that are ought to be ideal for their own sakes. This thesis delves into the evolution from basic urban exploration to meaningful engagement with communal spaces through psychogeography. By following two residents of Rotterdam, the study transforms their personal experiences and imaginaries into music compositions and live performances using the tools of theorematic reasoning and psychogeography. Psychogeography, as a field of study that seeks to understand how individuals move through cities and the emotional impacts of urban spaces, constitutes a significant part of this thesis. This discipline has been utilized by urban designers, artists, and social scientists to study city planning, art, and human behavior. In essence, psychogeography is an approach aimed at comprehending the effects of urban environments on human psychology, focusing not only on the physical structures of cities but also on the experiences of the inhabitants interacting with these structures. Psychogeography encompasses three main elements. "Dérive" (Drift) describes the practice of individuals wandering through the city without a conscious goal, discovering their surroundings. "Detournement" (Diversion) involves reinterpreting or using existing urban structures, paths, or maps to alter the way individuals perceive their environment. This aims to reshape people's interactions with the city and create different perspectives. The third main element of psychogeography is the creation of maps. These maps, designed to reflect the emotional and psychological effects of cities, are produced based on the personal experiences and perceptions of the residents, rather than traditional mapping techniques. Within the scope of the thesis, psychogeographic maps of the two subjects were created and subsequently used to produce music compositions. Theorematic Music Composition (TMC) is an innovative method that blends mathematical theory with artistic creativity. Inspired by Charles S. Peirce's theorematic thinking, composers use systematic reasoning, diagrams, and logical structures to guide their creative processes, exploring the connections between mathematics and music. A key feature of TMC is the dynamic use of external representations to create musical forms. Composers actively sketch, modify diagrams, or utilize non-musical data, fostering collaboration and innovation. These diagrams, derived from various sources like art, data, or existing compositions, form the foundational blueprint for TMC. The process of TMC can be likened to designing a bathroom ceramic tile, where initial design choices are followed by data-driven arrangement. The innovation lies in organizing these musical "tiles" to reflect acquired data, resulting in meticulously crafted musical forms from diverse sources, and enabling communal compositions based on audience input. The "Oude Westen" project exemplifies a social, participatory music endeavor. Located on the edge of Rotterdam's city center, Oude Westen plays a crucial role in the city's Urban Design Strategy 2030, aiming to boost the creative economy and enhance the district's value. This project involved selecting two residents to map their walking routes, transcribing these into repeating concepts, and conducting interviews to capture their unique perspectives. These routes revealed detailed memories and experiences of the neighborhood. Inspired by Lynch's concept of urban design as a temporal art and de Certeau's views on memory and place, the study incorporated these individual narratives into the composition process. The author walked the routes, recording audio and taking photographs, which were then used to create diagrams for the compositions. Musicians Giuseppe Doronzo and Johannes Fend performed the pieces at OMI's location, following live animated graphical notations. The concert was broadcasted live and funded by the "Balcony Sessions" subsidies from Fonds PodiumKunsten during the pandemic (2022). In conclusion, this study highlights the bottom-up construction of social imaginaries through individual narratives, emphasizing the author's role as a listener. Theorematic Music Composition emerges as a new way of engaging with commons, integrating personal stories to develop inclusive social imaginaries through shared artistic endeavors. This research underscores the significance of this approach in fostering a deeper connection with communal spaces.