Digital Commons Network^™

Relevant Versus Extraneous Music In Multimedia Instruction: A Study Of The Coherence Principle, Jonathan Gunnell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the inclusion of nonessential music in an instructional multimedia presentation affected learners’ ability to recall information in retention, cued-retention, and transfer cognitive measures. This study tested the coherence principle of multimedia learning which holds that the addition of nonessential content that is not relevant to the instruction is detrimental to learning. This study tested this principle by analyzing differences across three groups; a control group which included no additional music, a group including bland music selected at random, and a group including music that has been intentionally designed to align with …

Last Snow: An Analysis Of An Original Electronic Music Suite, Daniel Scott Landis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Last Snow is a suite of compositions in a genre that most closely approximates a contemporary jazz style with electronic elements and shifting meters. While there are clear examples of imitative synthesis within the work, many abstract examples of a more diffuse, impressionistic bent are also discernible. Much of the programming for these last mentioned tonal colors and synthesizer leads was accomplished by the composer.

The suite has as a unifying feature the tones of the natural scale beginning from various alternate root pitches. The compositions, therefore, operate for the composer as something of a study with several challenges unique …

Graduate Recital, Vocal Performance, Christopher Fiano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The master of music recital, being one of my final musical endeavors before the completion of my graduate degree in vocal performance, featured a wide variety of repertoire. As a new member of the tenor fach, finding music that is challenging and appropriate for my level of development was difficult. The recital featured works by Stefano Donaudy, Hugo Wolf, Èduardo Lalo, Gabriel Faurè, Georges Bizet, and Samuel Barber. Each musical set presented its own challenges. The Italian set by Donaudy featured smooth legato vocal lines intertwined with a thick musical texture and lavish supportive harmonies. The German Wolf set featured …

Graduate Recital, Saxophone, Abby Gross

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The young age of the saxophone in the existence of the music world has influenced the instrument's repertoire and programs to be versatile in genres and stylistic influences. This program features styles from several time periods and cultures including 20th and 21st century contemporary saxophone and piano duets, Brazilian choro, electronic music, and jazz. The nature of the instrument also allows pieces written for other instruments to take a different characteristic and open new meaning to a piece when played on the saxophone. For example, the element of passion in Brahms's Sonata in F minor No. 1 for clarinet takes …

Graduation Recital, Piano, Jamie Mazza

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This graduate recital features significant piano works from the major periods in music history. The opening pieces - the Scarlatti sonatas - are technically challenging but allow the pianist to show a great deal of expression. Schumann's Liederkreis, Op. 39 as well as the Weisgarber Sonatine are collaborative works; the first features a soprano soloist and the second is written for flute, clarinet, and piano. Ending the first half of the program is Schumann's Concerto in A minor, op. 54, extremely challenging for both soloist and accompanist, especially during the cadenza. The second half of the recital includes another contemporary …

Three States Of The Mind's Eye, Lindsay Huddleston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three States of the Mind's Eye is a multimedia work composed of music, poetry, and video. The purpose of the work is to examine attributes of three different abstract states of mind: the dream, paranoia, and courage. The musical score both tells its own story as well as enhances the visuals and poetry as they are presented. This document will discuss the ideas behind the work, how the composer went about creating each section and combining them, and will provide musical excerpts, the poetry itself and other visual examples. All sounds for the project are synthetic or sampled and the …

Graduate Recital Trombone, Quinton Zigler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This M.M. Thesis demonstrates the breadth of literature for the trombone in the genre of jazz ranging from Bebop to the current contemporary style of jazz. I will also play an original piece that will seemingly portray the many styles of music that have effected my musical development.

Assimilation, Thomas C. Childs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Assimilation is a work sonically exploring the tendency to seek conformity at the expense of unique ideas and creativity. The piece is based on two rhythmic motives: a brief, flitting motive used as the basis for independent exploration of melody and the second, a heavier, steady pulse, the majority that demands conformity. Throughout the piece several melodic ideas are explored in contrast to the whole, only to be assimilated back into the steady, ongoing march of the second motive. Assimilation is scored for full symphony orchestra and has a duration of approximately seven minutes.

Being Touched By Music: A Phenomenological-Hermeneutical Approach To Understanding Tranformational Musical Experience, Kurt Kumler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the lived experience of being personally transformed by listening to music. The investigation started with an exploration of the literature that relates to the phenomenon of musical transformation, including natural-scientific research as well as ideas from musicology, ethnomusicology, psychology, literature, and philosophy. This research was designed to access the nuanced and subjective aspects of the phenomenon by attending to the experience as lived by the experiencer. The method was qualitative in nature, based on a phenomenological-hermeneutical methodology. Throughout the research process, the researcher maintained a reflexive stance, attending to assumptions and preconceptions held about the phenomenon. This …