Translation and Perception of Extra-Musical Models in the Works of Tristan Murail

The dissertation presents a study of seminal techniques of French composer Tristan Murail, one of the founders of the spectral movement, and in particular, Murail's incorporation of extra-musical models into his compositions. Composers have employed such models through the ages as catalysts for the realization of their creative potential, but Murail's treatment of these models differs substantially from the pictorial musical representation of his predecessors as well as those of most of his contemporaries. While he does make use of more general imagery, he also utilizes actual data from his models to create harmonies, melodic contours and rhythms, as well as local and global forms. I present a study that analyzes the application of these models to three different stages of Murail's career, discussing their conceptualization, the complex issues involving the translation from model to notated musical idea, and the issues involving their interpretation and perception.;I also study the interdependence of the composer's work and technology, and the state of technological advancement during the time of an individual work's composition. The thesis thus traces the evolution of Murail's music against the backdrop of technological change. Relevant concepts from acoustics, psychoacoustics, and music technology, as well as translation theory and philosophy are incorporated to better illuminate issues crucial for a thorough analysis of Murail's work.;Chapter 1 introduces Murail's career, his ideas, and early influences, shedding some light on the composer's place in music history. Chapter 2 is an introduction to the history, concepts, and techniques of spectral music. Chapter 3 discusses the influence of electronic music, technology, and the composer's relationship with IRCAM. Chapter 4 discusses relevant topics and texts from translation theory. In Chapter 5, I present several musical examples of Murail's translation processes, in three different periods of the composer's career. Finally, in Chapter 6, I present an in-depth musical analysis of Murail's representative early work, Ethers.