Entropic dynamics and rhizomatic archetypes in Aeriality by Anna Thorvaldsdottir

• Main Author: Favali Federico
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Akademija umetnosti Univerziteta u Novom Sadu 2020-01-01
• Series: Zbornik Radova Akademije Umetnosti
• Subjects: aeriality; analysis; thorvaldsdottir; entropy; deleuze
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/2334-8666/2020/2334-86662008112F.pdf

Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir is part of the new generation of composers who have already gained international exposure. As she herself explained, her compositions are born from nature: from her long walks and from the observation of the dynamics, colors and sounds of nature itself. The piece for orchestra Aeriality (2011) is a good example of this poetics. This paper intends to analyze this composition in detail and talk about the author's poetics. Following my idea of an "open" musicology, that is related to other forms of knowledge and not a description of the score following a specific analytical method, first of all possible relationships between compositional structures that can be described in a quantitative way will be investigated. Particular importance will be given to the concept of entropy by translating t his concept into musical terms. Specifically, it will be shown how the displacement of sound masses in the orchestra determines an increase or decrease in entropy. Then the work will be analyzed according to the philosophy and thought of Gilles Deleuze. In particular, taking into account a main concept of his thought which is the rhizome. In concrete terms, it will be shown how the score contains rhizome archetypes and therefore it is possible to read it from this point of view. The intent therefore is to combine the work of this composer with an innovative approach.