Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Rise And Fall Of The Hillbilly Music Genre, A History, 1922-1939., Ryan Carlson Bernard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research will examine the rise in popularity of the hillbilly music genre as it relates to the early part of the twentieth century as well as its decline with the arrival of the western hero, the cowboy.

Chapter 1 examines the origins of traditional music and how instrumental the fiddle and banjo were in that development. Chapter 2 looks closely into the careers of recording artists who recorded what would later be called hillbilly music. Chapter 3 examines the string band and the naming of the hillbilly genre. Chapters 4 and 5 look at the aspect of radio programming …

Deconstructing The Corrido's Validity: The Transformation Of The Corrido Into The Narcocorrido, Wayne D. Meals

Theses & Dissertations

The classic corrido is a part of Mexican tradition and is woven into Mexico's rich cultural history. Listeners have endeared corridos for generations simply for the storytelling. They characterize small Mexican communities and their iconic heroes and represent the hope and courage that they must have in the face of injustice, oppression or danger. The protagonist in the corrido, commonly possessing the characteristics of Robin Hood, is a constant theme. This hero character also meets with an untimely death, usually the result of betrayal. The heightening of the element of conflict and violent death has transformed the classic corrido into …

Music Therapy With High-Risk Youth: An Exploration Of Current Practice, Beth A. Clark

Masters Theses

This study explored the practices of music therapists in the United States and Canada who had worked with high-risk youth within the previous ten years. High-risk youth were defined as those likely to experience a decline in global level of functioning due to one or more issues related to mental health, substance misuse, or other social, economic, or cultural disadvantages, including correctional system involvement, street-involvement, or unstable home environment. An online survey of credentialed music therapists was conducted to explore the areas of demographics, clinical practice and information-seeking. Music therapists working with high-risk youth were asked to identify the most …

Chamber Music Of The 20th-Century Russians, Nyle Takeo Matsuoka

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The goal of my project was to further enhance my abilities as a collaborative pianist and take an in-depth look at two composers (Prokofiev and Shostakovich) who are strong influences in my love of music. I found the challenge to be in balancing all of my individual practice time with all of the rehearsals between the three separate groups. Each group met at least once a week for a two-hour rehearsal in addition to having weekly coachings with members of the Fry Street Quartet. In the end, the recital was an immense success and the program notes turned out nice. …

Classical Guitar Instruction For The Pre-College Classroom, Blake Wuestefeld

Theses and Dissertations

This project is a curriculum for secondary guitar instruction. It consists of eight levels of study and is designed for the beginning to intermediate student. It has repertoire selections and explanations of the pedagogical validity of the works. These works were selected due to their cumulative and didactic nature and because of the specific technical issues they utilize. These technical issues are introduced gradually to ensure a student's steady and incremental progress in both technical and musical aspects. The student executes exercises from such sources as Aaron Shearers: Learning the Classic Guitar, the Royal Conservatory of Music graded repertoire series, …

A Comparison Of The Kodaly Methodology And Feierabend's Conversational Solfege, Aimee Noelle Peek

Theses and Dissertations

This paper compares and contrasts Zoltan Kodaly' s music methodology with John Feierabend's Conversational Solfege. Both systems for teaching music are founded upon similar philosophies and goals and emphasize singing in the classroom. Solfege, rhythmic syllables, and movement are incorporated in both methodologies. The order in which these solfege syllables and rhythmic meters are introduced to students differs between the two methods. The reasons behind this difference are discussed in detail. Folk music, the primary musical material utilized by both methodologies, is also examined. All concepts in either the Kodaly method or Conversational Solfege progress through specific stages to ensure …

A Two-Year Classical Guitar Ensemble For Pre-College Educational Settings, Andrew Clark

Theses and Dissertations

Forty-seven classical guitar ensemble works of various styles have been selected and ordered sequentially with regard to both right and left-hand technical, notational, and ensemble concepts. An evaluation of each work's representation of the aforementioned concepts is provided with illustrated excerpts from the music scores. This collection of works is presented in a logical and sequential order to form a two year, classical guitar ensemble curriculum for pre-college educational settings.

James Hainlen: An Oral History Of An Exemplary Public School Orchestra Director And His Program, Rebecca E. Starr

Theses and Dissertations

Experts advise string teachers to identify and model successful string teachers and programs. However, there is a scarcity of literature that examines this subject. There is literature that examines exemplary band teachers and programs, and these works can be useful to the string teaching profession. However, string teachers ·can benefit more from literature that specifically examines exemplary string orchestra programs and teachers. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to gather information from a renowned public school string teacher about the components of his successful string orchestra program.

The researcher conducted a personal interview with James Hainlen, retired director and …

The Effect Of Auditory-Motor Synchronization On Physiological Responses And Perceived Exertion During Treadmill Running, Tracy J. Kiel

Masters Theses

Synchronous, asynchronous, and no music were compared to determine the effect of synchronization of musical tempo and running cadence on physiological and perceptual responses to exercise. Eight subjects, three males and five females, participated in one assessment trial and three experimental trials. During the assessment trial, subjects performed a VO_2max test, and researchers then calculated running cadence at a velocity approximating 70 percent of VO_2max.

During the three experimental trials, subjects ran for 20 minutes at approximately 70 percent of VO_2max on a motorized treadmill with synchronous, asynchronous, and no music, where the order of trials …

Wandering Into The Dusky Plains For Winds, Percussion, And String Quartet, Jess Hendricks

Masters Theses

Wandering Into the Dusky Plains is a work composed for winds, percussion, and a string quartet in seven movements. It was written to fulfill a portion of the requirements to receive a Master' degree in Music composition from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The composition of the work was completed in December of 2006. All of the orchestration was done during the process of composition and edited later by the composer using Finale 2007. The MIDI realizaton of the score was completed using Logic Express 7.2, Garritan Personal orchestra sound software library, and Virtual drumline sound software library.

This …

The Effects Of The Arts Curriculum On The At-Risk Student Population: An Examination Of Music And Drama With Regard To Specific Risk Factors, Christy D' Ambrosio

MALS Final Projects, 1995-2019

Development of musical and dramatic arts skills strengthens psychological wellness within the at-risk population. The ability of the arts curriculum to promote psychological wellness is documented repeatedly in the premier research surveyed by two overarching compendia, Champions of Change and Critical Links. It is postulated that music and drama, specifically, promote positive behavioral change by enhancing or altering neurological pathways. Twelve developmental issues are examined in two broad categories: concepts of self and socialization. Each developmental issue is analyzed according to the aforementioned premier research. Musical and dramatic therapeutic responses, reflecting the conclusions reached by numerous researchers, are suggested for …

Hearing Arnold In A New Space : Building A Transformational-Theory Patrimony, Whitney Simmonds

Honors Theses

The old song goes "you always hurt the one you love", Harold Bloom's The Anxiety of Influence takes that idea a step further: for Bloom, artistic creation is born from an anxiety that compels artists to rebel against the influences of their predecessors, their artistic fathers: one has to metaphorically kill the thing one loves in order to escape its shadow. I realize that in order to do an honors thesis, I have to do a bit of good natured killing of my own - or at least do some sharp elbow jabbing - if only for a moment, to …

A Singer's Perspective On Recruitment, Auditioning, And Vocal Technique In The Choral Program, Lindsay Patten

Theses and Dissertations

Choral singing has been a part of culture for centuries. Choirs are comprised of singers with a near endless variety of experience levels in terms of training and technique. Three problems that face directors of choirs are: 1) How to recruit and retain students for their programs, 2) How to audition and structure, and 3) How to incorporate vocal technique into the choral rehearsal. In this paper I address some suggestions for recruitment that will touch on the ideas of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations as well as the basics of group vocal technique - breathing, tone, and diction, and …

Selected Resources For Ministers Of Music In Evangelical Christian Churches., Brian Emory Sharp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ministers of music in Evangelical Christian churches today are usually trained as choral conductors but take positions that require them to unexpectedly be an instrumental conductor, administrator, counselor, recruiter, evangelist, and even associate pastor.

There was no central resource for information to assist these musicians, thus this annotated bibliography was developed. It includes books and magazine articles on vocal and instrumental pedagogy, conducting, hymnology, theology, musical terminology, leadership skills, evangelism, and administration.

Because of time limitations, only sources available at Sherrod Library, East Tennessee State University, and on the Internet were cited. Time restraints also limited the number of resources …

The "Choral-Vocal Conflict": Explorations On An Established Problem With Offerings Of New Means For Improvement, Laura Anne Foster

Theses and Dissertations

Many students are exposed to both solo and ensemble vocal activities throughout their music education opportunities. For many years, there has been an unspoken conflict between vocal ensemble directors and private voice teachers as to the self-proclaimed, perceived importance of one practice over the other. This graduate music project will attempt to explore the ways this conflict materializes. It will outline the players in this conflict, the actions that fuel the conflict, as well as possible solutions to eliminate the "choral-vocal conflict".

Integrating Vocal And Musical Techniques In The Choral Rehearsal, William W. Rayfield Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The vocal warm-up is an aspect of the choral rehearsal which is many times seen as nothing more than a brief period in which a singer in an ensemble "warms''' his or her vocal mechanism in preparation for singing. It is also considered by many to be separate from the review of literature to be performed. However, if a conductor plans carefully for the warm-up period, it can serve to teach both vocal technique and the repertoire to be reviewed. There are numerous aspects of vocal technique that should be addressed during the choral warm-up. Among these is posture, breath, …

More Than Pictures: The Emotional Journey Of Mussorgsky’S “Pictures At An Exhibition”, Meredith Laing

Honors Capstone Projects - All

A piece of music is so much more than notes on a page. It embodies the historical context in which it was written, the feelings or events which inspired the composer to write it, the message the composer wishes to convey, the way a performer chooses to interpret it, and the impact it has on the audience. Since we know that different performances of one particular piece are often compared to each other as being higher or lower in technical and musical quality, it is clear that not every performance is the same, and that the differences that exist can …

The Etiology Of Music: Frederic Chopin And The Consumptive Ideal, Shirali Patel

Music Honors Theses

Although disease, in many ways, helped shape the life of Polish pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), its social implications have rarely been examined in biographical studies on the composer’s life. In this study, the medical literature on tuberculosis disease (formerly known as consumption) from the 19th century was examined for its significance in influencing public perceptions of the innovative musician during his lifetime. It was found that Chopin’s 19th-century profile as a effeminate pianist and composer may have been at least partially established through his embodiment of the 19th-century consumptive ideal.

A Study Of Robert Schumann And His Impact On The German Song Cycle, Melissa A. Mills

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research was to gain information about Robert Schumann and his impact on the German song cycle. The specific problems of the study were as follows: 1.) To trace the origins and development of the song cycle; 2.) To identify the significance of Robert Schumann to the German song cycle; and 3.) To analyze Frauenliebe und-Leben (‘A Woman’s Life and Love’), a song cycle composed by Schumann in 1840, in terms of form, style, and vocal technique. This research investigates the return of Robert Schumann from instrumental music back to vocal music and how he helped develop …

A Study Of Robert Schumann’S Liederkreis Op.39: Tracing Themes Of Nature From Poetry To Music, Mary H. F. Harkrader

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research was to gain information on Robert Schumann and trace themes of nature within his Liederkreis Op. 39. The specific problems of this study were as follows: 1.) to analyze the lieder of Schumann’s Liederkreis Op. 39 in terms of form; 2.) to identify and trace the themes of nature in Liederkreis Op. 39; and 3.) to identify how these themes are found in both the music and poetry of Liederkreis Op. 39. A brief section of research places this specific song cycle in the context of time, place, and composer.

A Musical Poet: Themes In The Lieder Of Robert Schumann’S Year Of Song, Mary H. Harkrader

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

My thesis will research themes of solitude, love, nature, mood or emotional states, and the duality of joy and pain in the Robert Schumann’s Lieder composed around the year 1840. This year was the year of Schumann’s marriage to his music teacher’s daughter Clara Wieck and is, consequently, the year when Robert Schumann turned to writing Lieder or songs. Lieder were a unique lyric genre created in Germany during Romantic era. These songs combined the works of great German poets of the time with the artistic expression of emotions captured by the composer. Tracing the themes in Robert Schumann’s Lieder …

Mathematical Methods In Composing Melodies, Thomas Brown

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This thesis, “Mathematical Methods in Composing Melodies,” explores the different ways in which mathematics can be used to create music. Some research has been done in this field already. Richard F. Voss and John Clarke used fractals and different frequencies of noise to create music. The Greek composer Iannis Xenakis used Markovian Stochastic trees to create some of his compositions. Explored in this thesis are seven different methods to compose melodies. After compiling the different melodies, they were categorized by different musical periods based on the musical characteristics found in the melody. This thesis differs from other research that deals …

Beowulf, Anthony Alvarado

Masters Theses

My composition is a tone poem based on the Old English epic poem Beowulf Specifically, this piece depicts Beowulf s three battles with three diverse monsters. The first Grendel, second Grendel's mother, and last a dragon. In this composition, the music does not follow any specific or traditional forms. Instead, each episode is presented as a picture of each event.

The choice to depict the story of Beowulf was an interesting choice. While historically the story is significant, it is not a very popular one. The poem is the oldest surviving manuscript written in Old English. However, more recent (relatively) …

Orchestra Sketch, Lei Li

Masters Theses

This orchestra piece consists of two movements inspired by the beauty and power of nature. The entire piece uses colorful orchestration and sensitive harmonic language as a palette to draw nature's colors.

As I began sketching out the first movement in early spring, every living creature was gradually emerging from its winter slumber, bringing bright colors into the world. The green grass appeared under the white snow, brown trees tum green, and many yellow daffodils and white tulips started to blossom. This first movement uses lyrical dialogues between strings and the orchestra to express the romantic emotions of spring's blossoms. …

From Consciousness To Callousness: The Misdirected Path Of Rap, Pamela Collins

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

This paper describes the misdirected path and tainting of rap music from its positive origins to the commercially violent genre it is thought of today. Variables in this devolution of rap include the influence of record and distribution companies, deindustrialization, white flight, migration of gangs, and the introduction of prison culture. This paper introduces a new variable which is the relationship between the emergence of crack cocaine and the devolution of rap music. Other work has begun to appear that mentions one or several variables but not all of them. Arguing that none of these factors can be fully understood …

A Study Of Lars-Erik Larsson And His Contributions To Trombone Repertoire, Thomas S. Brown

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research was to gain information about Lars-Erik Larsson and his contributions to trombone repertoire. The specific problems of the study were as follows: 1) to identify and investigate Larsson’s major contributions to twentieth century music; 2) to identify and investigate Larsson’s contribution to trombone repertoire; 3) to analyze Larsson’s Concertino for Trombone and String Orchestra Op. 45 No. 7 in terms of form, structure, and twentieth century techniques. A biographical overview of Larsson’s life is given as background and as insight to his compositions.

Objective Test Methods For Waveguide Audio Synthesis, Steven Gregory Wood

Theses and Dissertations

Acoustic Physical Modeling has emerged as a newer musical synthesis technique. The most common form of physical modeling synthesis in both industry and academia is digital waveguide synthesis. Commercially available for the past thirteen years, the top synthesizer manufacturers have chosen to include physical modeling synthesis in their top of the line models. In the area of audio quality testing, the most common tests have traditionally been group listening tests. While these tests are subjective and can be expensive and time-consuming, the results are validated by the groups' proper quality standards. Research has been conducted to evaluate objective testing procedures …

A Study Of Charles-Auguste De Beriot And His Contributions To The Violin, Leigh P. Mackintosh

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research was to gain information about Charles-Auguste de Beriot (1802-1870) and his contributions to the violin. The specific problems of the study were as follows: 1.) to identify what influenced the compositions of Charles-Auguste de Beriot; 2.) to outline important developments in his writing that contributed to violin technique and Romanticism; and 3.) to analyze Concerto IX in A minor for Violin, Op. 104 in terms of melody, harmony, tonality, texture, and form. The intention of this research is to investigate Beriot’s compositions for violin and examines the Romantic aspects that appear in his Concerto IX. …

A Pedagogical Analysis Of Selected Pieces From Albumblätter, Op. 124, By Robert Schumann, Amanda Elizabeth Montgomery

LSU Major Papers

Robert Schumann composed numerous pieces that are accessible to the intermediate piano student. In addition to his well-known Album für die Jugend, Op. 68, certain pieces from the Albumblätter, Op. 124 also provide excellent pedagogical material. Albumblätter is one of the last collections published during the composer’s life. The collection contains works written as early as 1832 and as late as 1845, spanning much of Schumann’s creative lifetime. He discarded several of the compositions from earlier sets, such as Carnaval Op. 9 and Kinderscenen Op. 15. Others were composed for a projected collection, XII Burle, which Schumann later abandoned. He …

The Selected Sacred Solo Vocal Motets Of Claudio Monteverdi Including Confitebor Tibi, Domine, Kimberly Ann Roberts

LSU Major Papers

Claudio Monteverdi’s operas and madrigals, and their importance in the development of Western Music has been researched and discussed by many scholars. His sacred output, particularly the solo motets, is not as thoroughly researched. This study briefly explores Monteverdi’s life with emphasis on his sacred output, and discusses his development of text expression in the solo motets that echo the expressive progression found in his madrigals and operas. While focusing on three solo motets (two settings of Confitebor tibi, Domine and a setting of Currite, populi), this study traces the refinement of text expression and the development of stile concitato, …