The Research Status of Music Composition in Australia

A brief consideration of a number of Doctor of Philosophy programs in music composition offered at Australian universities reveals differences in the research status of original musical compositions. A discussion introduces three principal criteria for music composition to qualify as research: (1) the investigative nature, (2) the systematic investigation, and (3) the original contribution to knowledge. The discussion concludes that PhD candidates should be able to address criteria one and two without major conceptual hurdles. The third criterion constitutes a challenge in terms of both the conceptualisation of aesthetic knowledge and a PhD candidate's capacity to create original music. The research status of music composition can be seen in the context of a recent increase in the acceptance of non-text-based research outcomes, such as visual art exhibitions, live performances, and computer software. This acceptance, however, is by no means universal and is likely to remain contentious for some time to come, at least within the confines of traditional academia. With particular reference to music, the contention lies in the perception that the composition of musical works is primarily a creative activity, rather than an intellectual pursuit associated with research. Notwithstanding this contention, PhDs in music composition have been offered here in Australia and overseas for many years, and many well-established practitioners in the field of music composition conceive of their work as innovative and exploratory.