Visual Art in Sound: Compositional and Performance Approaches to Musical Ekphrasis

Publication Date

3-2026

Presentation Length

60 minutes

College

College of Music & Performing Arts

Department

Music, School of

Student Level

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Jeff Kirk

Presentation Type

Performance

Summary

This project examines the art of musical ekphrasis through a dual case study, pairing a historical exemplar with a contemporary composition. The first case study focuses on Pictures at an Exhibition (1874) by Modest Mussorgsky, in which the composer translates the drawings of visual artist Viktor Hartmann into piano music. Analysis of this piece highlights the stages by which the composer’s first perception of the visual art (observation, interpretation, and mapping of visual elements) becomes structured musical expression.

The second case study centers on Visions, Op. 10, an original solo piano work composed to investigate musical ekphrastic translation in an original and contemporary context. By applying a similar process (observation, interpretation, mapping, structural design, and musical realization), the piece explores how visual and philosophical stimuli, whether concrete or abstract, can generate motivic material, harmonic language and color, and a complete narrative arc. The presentation will demonstrate how these compositional strategies allow for transformation and personal artistic voice while remaining faithful to the visual art and the tradition exemplified by Mussorgsky.

Through performance and discussion, this dual case study highlights the methodology of ekphrastic composition, offering a lens for understanding canonical works, a framework for contemporary creative application, and practical considerations for performance.

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