Cross-modal Auditory Hermeneutics: A Study of Reconstruction in Theological Texts
The process of listening to music is simultaneously an experience of signification, with the signified pointing primarily toward two domains: the internal and the external. This includes the self-identity manifested by the musical text, as well as elements revealed through other media and techniques (referring to meanings outside the music). Ultimately, understanding depends on whether the listener has the experiential framework to perceive this meaning. Unlike language, music’s semantic form lacks the inherent, obligatory comprehensibility that language possesses.
We can discern the rational form of signification within intertextual commentary and the complementary relationships among theological texts. Religious concepts often emphasize precise semantics and consistency, while heavily relying on the polysemy of language in their complex reference systems. Hence, how can sound and ritual symbolic nature create polysemy? This research uses mysticism texts as the primary reference.
Po-Yu Wang
Composition
Po-Yu Wang is a Taiwanese composer based in Zurich, born in Taipei in 1984. During his early education, he studied composition and electronic music with Ya-Ming Hsu and Yu-Chung Tseng. On the recommendation of French electronic music composer Christian Eloy, he continued his studies at the Zurich University of the Arts. In 2021, he completed his Master’s degree in Composition under Isabel Mundry at the Zurich University of the Arts, and he is currently pursuing a doctoral degree within an artistic-scientific doctoral program at the Zurich University of the Arts and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.
For his work, he has received various awards, including the Petites Formes Acousmatic Composition Competition in Paris and the WOCMAT International Phil Winsor Electroacoustic Music Competition. Wang is engaged in creating instrumental and electronic music, multimedia works, and soundtracks for films. In recent years, he has developed a growing interest in exploring the composition process through the lens of post-structuralism.
He has established numerous collaborations with musicians and music groups, including conductors William Blank and Baldur Brönnimann, as well as the Ensemble Arc-en-Ciel and the ZHdK Vocal Ensemble. His compositions have been premiered in Austria, France, Switzerland, Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan.