ABSTRACT
In spectral composition the acoustic properties of sound constitute source material for music composition. The term spectral refers to the timbral content of sound - the precise mixture of partials (frequencies, amplitudes and initial phases) that make up a sound's waveform (see Chapters 9 and 13 for a discussion of sound and harmonics). Spectral composition is also a label that refers to a group of contemporary French composers (Dufourt, Grisey, Murail, Risset) that work extensively with timbral information. An overview of some of their compositional techniques can be found in An Introduction to the Pitch Organization of French Spectral Music (Rose) by Francois Rose. Many other contemporary composers also work extensively with spectral information as well, including John Chowning, Barry Truax and James Dashow. Spectralist tendencies are clearly observable in the work of earlier twentieth century composers such as Andre Jolivet, Olivier Messiaen, Iannis Xenakis, Edgard Varese and Ben Johnston.
