Gestalt Modeling of Ponteio No. 28 by Camargo Guarnieri

Abstract: In this work, the analytical-compositional methodology called Gestalt Modeling (hereinafter GM) is used to analyze Camargo Guarnieri’s Ponteio No. 28 , from the perspective of three laws of perceptual organization according to Gestalt Psychology. The objective of the analysis is to provide some definitions of the hypothetical system that generated this musical work by Guarnieri and to plan a musical composition for solo piano entitled Aboio . This planning will be described in detail in this paper. GM comes from the convergence between two fields of knowledge, Gestalt Theory and Systemic Modeling, whose definitions will be introduced in this work. From the structural dispositions of an intertext (a pre-existing musical work), according to certain Gestalt laws of perceptual organization, it is possible to create new works based on these structures. GM basically consists of two phases: 1) analysis from the perspective of Gestalt Theory; and 2) relational generalization, which consists of considering only the relationships between objects detected in the analytical phase, disregarding their particular values. The result of this methodology is a hypothetical compositional system that generates the work used in the planning of the new work Aboio . There are aesthetic similarities at a deep level between this work and the intertext, and there are significant differences related to aspects not included in the compositional system and to the filling of relational structures contained in the system. As final results, GM presents itself as: 1) a useful and differentiated resource for the analysis of musical works and also for compositional purposes, for coherently presenting new ways of organizing musical elements; and 2) possible methodology for compositional pedagogy as it provides subsidies for a conscious practice and the development of the student’s own compositional language.