Jake Adams

Thesis

Thesis

Approaches to cross-cultural synthesis in a post-colonial world

• Supervisor: Martin Suckling and Daniel March

Despite being commonly used in discussions surrounding cross-cultural music, the term ‘synthesis’ is rarely defined within literature, and is often used interchangeably with ideas of ‘hybridity’ and ‘fusion’. Developing from Everett’s definition of cross-cultural synthesis as a piece of music combining elements from two or more different traditions where the result is a new hybrid entity, this practice-based PhD project examines the approaches a composer can take in creating ‘synthetic’ cross-cultural music whilst considering the role of musical experience within the composition process. The project begins by categorising both the types of ensemble that may be involved in a cross-cultural piece and the cultural relationship the composer has with the traditions involved in the work, before then using newly composed works within each of these categories as case studies for the approaches that could be taken.

Biography

Biography

Jake is a composer, gamelan player, guitarist, teacher and researcher currently studying his PhD at the University of York. With a history as a heavy metal guitarist who later trained as a contemporary classical composer and Javanese gamelan player, Jake's work explores the process of cross-cultural synthesis in creating music that combines musical elements from different traditions in order to create a new hybrid entity. His work has been performed around the world by soloists and ensembles including Ensemble intercontmporian, Quatuor Diotima, Jasdeep Singh Degun, Cheng Yu, Sarah Nicholls, "Tokyo to New York", Darragh Morgan, Alexy Potapov, Gamelan Sekar Petak and Ensemble Adapter. Jake's piece Aanka for classical guitar and fixed media was awarded the Collaboration Prize at the Twisted Spruce Online Symposium 2021, and in 2022 he was awarded the Terry Holmes Composer/Performer Award alongside flautist Naomi Perera to create Where we are now, a new work for solo flautist, chamber orchestra and electronics.

Research

Research

Composition, cross-culturalism, musical experience, Javanese gamelan, cultural appropriation,

Publications

Publications

Participant on Psappha's 'Composing for Sitar' scheme (2019/2020)
'Sky and Water' for solo classical guitar published by Azahar Press (2020)
'Aanka' for classical guitar and electronics awarded Collaboration Prize at the Twisted Spruce Online Symposium and published by Azahar Press (2021)
Participant on Psappha's 'Composing for Pipa' scheme (2022/2023)
Co-recipient of the Terry Holmes Composer/Performer Award (2022/2023)
Paper: Spectrum of Tuning: Addressing the Challenges of Tuning in New Works for Javenese
Gamelan and Instruments in Equal Temperament - BRITISH FORUM FOR ETHNOMUSICOLOGY AND ROYAL MUSICAL ASSOCIATION RESEARCH STUDENTS’ CONFERENCE 2023
'Thirty in Eight' composed for and performed at Dartington Festival by Sarah Nicholls (supported by bursary) (2023)
'Apeirogon' for percussion, electric guitar, harp and electronics commission and performed at Limina Festival, Salzburg by Ensemble Adapter (2023)
Performances of works in the UK, USA, Austria, Russia, Germany and Denmark (various)