A PERFORMER’S GUIDE TO ADAM CUTHBÉRT’S WORKS FOR SOLO TRUMPET AND ABLETON SOFTWARE

Abstract

Adam Cuthbért has established himself as a composer worthy of study through his prolific interactions with a wide range of performers and organizations of national and international renown. High profile groups such as the Friction String Quartet, Third Coast Percussion, and Bang on a Can All Stars have performed his works, and the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and National Public Radio have reviewed his compositional output. Also a trumpeter, Cuthbért has composed four works for solo trumpet and Ableton Live software, with the most significant of these works being an interactive sonata over 35 minutes in length. However, the unique nature of these works provides challenges for an interested performer. This will address Cuthbért’s works through providing a historic context for the pieces, an in depth guide to the physical setup as well as the software used in performance, analysis of the works themselves, and interviews with several performer of these works in addition to an interview with the composer. Analysis will include pedagogical and technical demands for the performer as well as musical analysis using Brian Fennelly’s XYE system of analysis of sound in order to garner an understanding of the structure of these works.