Finding Time, Finding Space: An Autoethnography of Compositional Praxis

Using an Auto-ethnographic lens, I explore the various strands of my compositional praxis in the context of gender and creativity in the twenty-first century. Discussion of specific works provides insight into the creative process, from the initial inspirations and starting points to the more technical aspects of structuring musical sounds in time. The three works discussed are Ebb Tide (2016), Finding What’s There (2017) and Journeywork (2018–). Reflection around the creative impetus and context of each work reveals how I see the act of composing as a meta-praxis, enabling me to process and analyse my own experiencing. The discussion is grounded in Qualitative Research paradigms and Critical Subjectivity (Herron & Reason, 1997) as well as drawing on philosophy, aesthetics and sociology.