Yanis El-Masri

Composer and PhD candidate in Musical Composition at the University of Aveiro, where he is developing the project Bridging the gap: Standardization of expanded compositional techniques for electric guitar as a means of sonic, aesthetic and cultural enrichment of Western Art Music, funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). He holds a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Musical Composition from the same institution, having studied under Professor Evgueni Zoudilkine and been awarded a merit scholarship (2021). His master’s dissertation is entitled Chamber Concerto for Expanded Electric Guitar and Mixed Ensemble: An Exploration of Timbre and Extended Techniques.

He began his musical studies in 2005 in Kuwait, with training in classical piano (ABRSM), electric guitar, and oud. He attended the Moscow State Conservatory (2016/2017), where he worked with Professors Roman Ledenyov, Yuri Kasparov, Tatiana Chudova, and Yuri Vorontsov. In 2015, he was awarded 2nd prize at the MGIM A.G. Schnittke Competition and received a Special Diploma at the Volshebnaya Lira for his works String Quartet No. 1 and Eurabia.

His body of work includes solo pieces, orchestral music, film scores, and electronic compositions, within the scope of Western art and experimental music. His works have been performed in venues such as Casa da Música (Portugal), the Arab Club of Viña del Mar (Chile), and the Moscow Conservatory (Russia), by performers such as Oumeima El-Khalil, Orquesta Marga Marga, David Lloyd, Alabiev Quartet, among others.

He has composed soundtracks for films showcased and awarded at international festivals. Notably, A Mind Sang / A Mãe de Sangue (2019), by Vier Nev, which received recognition at Annecy, Monstra, and Animaphix, with its soundtrack being critically acclaimed. Since 2021, the film has been featured in exhibitions at Wonderspaces galleries (USA).

In 2021, he released Apartment L.P. with the band Good Day MACHINE and had his piece String Quartet No. 2 selected by Peter Rundel for the 4th Summer Academy of the Remix Ensemble. His research interests include polystylism, culturally informed microtonality, and the idiomatic use of amplified electric instruments in art music.

Doctoral Project

TItle
Bridging the gap: Standardization of expanded compositional techniques for electric guitar as a means of sonic, aesthetic and cultural enrichment of Western Art Music

Advisor
Evgueni Zoudilkine

Abstract

The electric guitar has undergone rapid evolution within Popular Music. From the perspective of Western art music, its limitless possibilities present compositional challenges. Possible compositional approaches for the instrument are rarely taught, and due to its complexity, composers often avoid using it, resulting in a limited body of works (Noseworthy, 2023). While most instruments have been academically systematized, this is not the case for the electric guitar (Banks, 2013). Nevertheless, the instrument holds great potential for enriching Western art music and is considered a “people’s instrument” (Poss, 1998). By investigating the impact of technologies—electric guitar models, pedals, and amplifiers—on sound aesthetics, characteristics, and performance techniques, the main goal of this project is to create an orchestration tool that facilitates broader inclusion of the electric guitar in Western art music. This tool will be applied in new works for the instrument in various settings, thus enriching its repertoire.

Keywords
Electric guitar; Orchestration tool; Sonic enrichment; Electroacoustic music; Western art music; Re-performability.

Funding
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (UI/BD/06603/2024)