Maggie Bell Composer
Wars, Eruptions, Harmonies and Disharmonies (PhD thesis)
Since 2018 I have been immersed in postgraduate studies in Music Composition at Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium, focussing on exploring my experiences living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID, formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder) through the medium of music composition.
My PhD thesis is entitled ‘Wars, Eruptions, Harmonies and Disharmonies’ reflecting the inner dynamics of my various dissociated identities (parts/alters) expressed as a series of solo and orchestra works.
Different parts or groups of parts in my DID system (the structure of my personality) have composed different scores depending on what experiences/memories/roles they have in my mind.
In this blog I present a selection of the compositions from that process, accompanied by explanatory notes about themes and ‘conversations’ represented in the music.
Each piece will have the associated scrolling score and either live audio or digital recordings.
A major goal for this project is to break down the conspiracy of silence surrounding childhood sexual abuse, especially incestuous abuse and to provide support for those still suffering from childhood trauma as well as initiating conversations with those who have never before thought about the prevalence and ongoing impact of childhood abuse.
Note: when referring to my internal system, the dissociated states are referred to as “parts” and will be italicised in this blog.
About Maggie Bell - Composer
Maggie's Bio
Maggie's Bio
Maggie's Bio
I am about to complete my Ph.D. at Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium, having also completed both my undergraduate degree (B.A. Mus) and Masters degree (M.Mus. Studies) at that institution.
I am also a part-time composer, having composed pieces for the opening of Mental Health Week, Brisbane, 2015 and for a collaboration with
I am about to complete my Ph.D. at Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium, having also completed both my undergraduate degree (B.A. Mus) and Masters degree (M.Mus. Studies) at that institution.
I am also a part-time composer, having composed pieces for the opening of Mental Health Week, Brisbane, 2015 and for a collaboration with Ron Jontof-Hutter for an orchestral work based on the end of the recent pandemic.
Previous employment includes both full and part-time teaching for the Education Department, Qld, primary and secondary levels as well as private music tuition and classroom music teaching for many years in the United Kingdom.
More recently I was selected to be a speaker at Creative Brain Week Australia 2024.
My interests largely revolve around music and music composition and my current goals include:
1. Adding to the repertoire of Australian Female Composers
2. Composing music that may assist in the mental health well-being of others
3. Composing music that may help therapists look to different paths in the treatment of people with mental health issues
Solo Scores
Maggie's Bio
Maggie's Bio
The solo compositions originated from particular clusters of personalities (parts) coming forward to express their current, or past, experiences. These clusters seem to be groups of personalities which have a common underlying experience, role or central message that needed to be expressed, such as bullying/powerlessness, feeling displac
The solo compositions originated from particular clusters of personalities (parts) coming forward to express their current, or past, experiences. These clusters seem to be groups of personalities which have a common underlying experience, role or central message that needed to be expressed, such as bullying/powerlessness, feeling displaced or representing a particular age group. They worked together to communicate that common theme through composition.
As part of the reflective process of this project, I have become aware that when my parts begin to compose there is no awareness by other parts of the system. They come forward and begin to compose without any conscious negotiation and without conflict or resistance. It is usually only after listening to the piece that some internal communication and understanding begins and I begin to be able to express the core message of the piece in words. It is only through this process and reflecting on the works in therapy that I have been aware of the existence of these clusters and their roles in the system.
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Maggie Bell Composer
