Spectralisme is a term applied to composers since the 1980s whose musical concerns include the use of instrumental, vocal, and environmental sound as models from which any number of attributes of a musical composition (e.g. micro-structures, macro-structures, harmonic content) may be extrapolated or mapped. The term is derived from 'spectrum' and work associated with the term has been facilitated through the use of the computer to spectrally analyse, model, and visually represent sound (many composers thus called have worked at IRCAM, Paris, where research in this field was prevalent during the 1980s and 90s). Musical compositions are frequently for instrumental and vocal resources, or 'mixed' electroacoustic works involving performers and live electronics and/or tape. Critics and scholars refer to composers such as Kaija Saariaho, Tristan Murail, Gerard Grisey, Magnus Lindberg as Spectralistes.

Le spectralisme est un terme appliqué à des œuvres de compositeurs depuis les années 80 dans lesquelles l'utilisation de sons d'instruments, de voix et de sons environnementaux sert de modèles à partir desquels différents éléments de la composition musicales (par exemple, les microstructures, les macrostructures ou le contenu harmonique) sont générés ou extraits. Le terme vient du mot “spectre” et la composition des œuvres spectrales a été facilité par l'utilisation de l'ordinateur permettant l'analyse spectrale, la modélisation et la représentation du son (de nombreux compositeurs spectraux ont travaillé à Paris à l'IRCAM, lieu dans lequel les recherches spectrales ont été privilégiées durant les années 80 et 90). Les œuvres spectrales sont souvent écrites pour des instrumentistes, des chanteurs, des musiciens de live electronics ou des bandes dans le cas d'œuvres mixtes électroacoustiques. Les critiques et les disciples se réfèrent aux compositeurs spectraux tels que Kaija Saariaho, Tristan Murail, Gerard Grisey, Magnus Lindberg.

Termine che a partire dagli anni Ottanta indica le opere di alcuni compositori, nelle quali i suoni strumentali, la voce e i suoni ambientali servono da modello a partire dal quale viene generata o derivata la composizione del brano (per esempio la sua microstruttura, la macrostruttura, il contenuto armonico). Il termine deriva dalla parola “spettro”.

La composizione di opere spettrali è stata facilitata dall'utizzo del computer, poiché questo permette l'analisi spettrale, la modellizzazione e la rappresentazione di un suono (molti dei compositori hanno lavorato all'IRCAM di Parigi, dove negli anni 80 e 90 venne sviluppata un'intensa ricerca spettrale). Le opere elettroacustiche possono essere miste con la presenza di strumenti, cantanti, live electronics o nastro. Tra i compositori citiamo Kaija Saariaho, Tristan Murail, Gerard Grisey, Magnus Lindberg.

Spectralisme is a term applied to composers since the 1980s whose musical concerns include the use of instrumental, vocal, and environmental sound as models from which any number of attributes of a musical composition (e.g. micro-structures, macro-structures, harmonic content) may be extrapolated or mapped. The term is derived from 'spectrum' and work associated with the term has been facilitated through the use of the computer to spectrally analyse, model, and visually represent sound (many composers thus called have worked at IRCAM, Paris, where research in this field was prevalent during the 1980s and 90s). Musical compositions are frequently for instrumental and vocal resources, or 'mixed' electroacoustic works involving performers and live electronics and/or tape. Critics and scholars refer to composers such as Kaija Saariaho, Tristan Murail, Gerard Grisey, Magnus Lindberg as Spectralistes.

El Espectralismo es un término aplicado desde la década del 80 a los compositores cuyo interés musical comprende el uso de sonidos instrumentales, vocales y del entorno como modelos de los que se pueden extrapolar o mapear los diversos atributos de una composición musical (por ejemplo: microestructuras, macroestructuras, contenido armónico). El término se deriva de "espectro" y funciona asociado al mismo. El espectralismo se ha visto facilitado por el uso de la computadora en el análisis, la modelización y la representación visual del sonido (muchos de los compositores llamados espectralistas trabajaron en el IRCAM, en Paris, durante las décadas del 80 y el 90, período durante el cual se llevaron a cabo importantes investigaciones en este campo, en la mencionada institución). Los espectralistas han compuesto tanto música para instrumentos acústicos o voces, como obras electroacústicas "mixtas" que incluyen intérpretes y electrónica en vivo y/o cinta. Críticos y académicos se refieren a compositores como: Kaija Saariaho, Tristan Murail, Gerard Grisey y Magnus Lindberg, como espectralistas.