Old Instruments, New Sounds, Same Language: The Notation, Orchestration, and Compositional Use of Contemporary Techniques for Orchestral Stringed Instruments

This research project utilizes semiotic principals in order to outline a comprehensive notational system for orchestral stringed instruments and the contemporary practices and extended techniques composers ask for in 20th- and 21st-century repertoire. This work acts as both a survey of the repertoire of orchestral string music, selected based upon the use of these techniques, and as a notational guide targeted towards composers. Techniques are chosen based upon their accessibility, historical importance, and my own personal experience composing with and performing works containing them. Additionally, the techniques discussed within this thesis can be viewed as building blocks to more extensive techniques that combine multiples of these techniques within a single mass effect.