Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Grail Of Harmony: Just Intonation Vs. Equal Temperament, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Western art music is founded upon the system of tuning known as equal temperament. The European continental based harmonic science which defines classical music was effectively established upon the science of this system. The opposite system is that of just intonation, of which the method of tuning yields scales with partials, tones smaller than those in existent in common practice, commonly referred to as microtones. Eastern music is founded upon this system. There has been debate on both systems sparsely throughout history since earliest recorded antiquity. Numerous performers, scholars, theorists, and scientists have observed problems with common practice equal temperament. …

From Words To Grammar And Grammar To Speech: A Practical Analysis Of Charlie Parker, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Today, there exists a respectable body of work analyzing the music and life of Charlie Parker. Parker left behind around 900 recordings, a prolific body of work. There remains a great deal of solos to be transcribed and studied although there is much research examining hundreds of Parker solo transcriptions and proffering pedagogy to be used by the student of jazz improvisation in order to learn how to improvise within the musical language of Charlie Parker. Scholars have not paid a great deal of attention to how to synthesize the various research and pedagogies into a methodical guide for the …

Embodying The Divine Feminine: Doja Cat’S Use Of Vocal Timbre, Text, And Body In Planet Her To Construct A Feminine Soundscape — Annotated Bibliography, Tommy Dainko

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

In 2021 Doja Cat released her album Planet Her, an imagination of a planet where there was no bigotry, and everyone could live in peace. The main theme of her album, however, revolves around femininity and the divine feminine. This paper will examine how Doja Cat constructs these concepts through a variety of ways. This paper will use Black feminist work to position Doja Cat’s work as feminist. Through the use of a variety of ‘feminine’ vocal timbres—both hers and from featured artists on her album—Doja Cat creates a feminine soundscape. Doja cat also embraces femininity and embodies the …

Phantasticus: An Exploration Of The Sound World Of 17th Century Italian Instrumental Music, Ian Jones

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

The Baroque period is home to some of the most prolific composers known today: Handel, Vivaldi, Bach all fill the standard repertoire of many instrumentalists today. However, who came before, and why should we care? Prior to these notable composers of the High Baroque, the 17th century marked an era of immense musical discovery. The early 1600s was a time of exploration and excitement within the realms of music making and musical thought. Claudio Monteverdi was a pivotal figure in the development of the early Baroque world, and with that, new styles of music emerged, noted as stil concertato …

Addressing Negative Conditions In A Voice Studio: How Could Mindfulness Be Used As A Pedagogical Method Of Voice Teaching In The Context Of The Master-Apprentice Relationship?, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

The proposed research paper will evaluate the negative aspects of the master-apprentice model in voice studios. The master-apprentice relationship has been a traditional style of teaching since the bel canto school of Italy in the 16^th century and continues to be a foundation of voice teaching today. However, with the development of education and technology, vocal instruction/pedagogy has evolved tremendously. Offering new approaches and philosophies of teaching in the field of music. The teaching of mindfulness in the voice studio has become a popular topic in music education. Along with awareness, mindful practice has given students the opportunity to …

“For The Orchestra Musicians: Conducting On The Beat Is Effective Or Too Late?”, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

There are a lot of conductors, and every conductor is different. There are as many conducting techniques as well. But one of the most famous approaches in conducting an ensemble, whether a wind ensemble, orchestra, or chorus, is to deliver the beat and expecting the ensemble for an immediate ‘attack’ of the note. An instant reciprocation and reaction at the same exact time as the ‘ictus’ of the conductor. Basically, doing it exactly together. The other notion is that the conductor beating should be beating ahead of time (almost a beat ahead) to give the ensemble some time to prepare …

The New Golden Era: Annotated Bibliography, Josh Stocking

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

An annotated bibliography on Broadway musicals.

How Theories About Instrumental Practice Strategies In Western Music Evolved Since The 1700'S: A Select Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

As music teachers, we introduce our students to a variety of methods for learning their instrument. In addition, it is necessary to impart wisdom on how to practice those methods and strategic ways to approach the learning and preparing of pieces for performance.

This paper will endeavor to compare and contrast how those strategies and techniques have evolved over the past 300+ years to better understand what practice strategies are “tried and true”, which have been discarded over time, and what has been added to the pantheon of strategies and scientific studies as performance practice and our understanding of psychology …

The Effective Concertmaster: A Look At The 21st Century Role, Eva Toncheva

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

The role and responsibilities of the orchestral concertmaster have evolved alongside the orchestra over the last several centuries, shifting away from composing music for the ensemble and organizing events, and towards being aware of union standards, etiquette, and musician morale, as well as the important task of writing bowings. What makes an effective concertmaster? In attempting to answer this question, this paper will be examining both the musical and extra-musical duties of the modern day concertmaster, primarily focusing on leadership qualities such as cueing and leading with the bow. The paper will draw on biographical sources of current concertmasters of …

Healthy Cello Playing: Teaching Cello To Promote Injury Prevention, Isabella Kodama

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Cellists and other instrumentalists frequently suffer from playing-related injuries, and these can be detrimental to their career and psychological health. There are many ways to treat these injuries, but the most beneficial method is prevention. I want to find ways to help prevent pain and injury by developing good habits in the beginning of their playing. A lack of body awareness is a frequent cause of injury for many musicians. My goal in this research is to find ways of preventing injuries throughout one’s playing career, but more specifically from the very early stages of cello-playing, so that these issues …

The Kodály Method: Valid Or Missing The Mark For Developing A Musicking Musician?, Maggie Johnston

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

In the ever-evolving world of music education, a handful of “methods” have been identified as favorites, mainly Orff, Suzuki, Dalcroze, and Kodály. These are used in whole or in part in classroom and private music instruction, based on an expected understanding that they produce results. However, these methods are often used without regard for the quality of their delivery, and are relied upon without consideration for the context in which they are delivered. Many music educators are speaking up and analyzing their own teaching, conducting studies, and bettering their understanding of the principles behind these methods. It is from this …

Video Gamers As Performers: Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

This study is based on the concept and idea of video game players performing music through the games that they play. This serves as a very assessable way for people who do not have the money, time commitment, and or motivation to be able to play and perform music without any background in music literacy.

Colorism And Its Affects In R&B Music: Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

This is an annotated bibliography of some of the sources that I will be using for my research paper due next quarter.

Why We Don’T Just Dance To A Metronome: Examining The Musical Characteristics Of American Rhythm And Smooth, Tommy Endicott

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

American Smooth and Rhythm are the fastest growing styles of ballroom dance in America, and as new ideas for how to perform the dances flood the dance floor, so do new ideas for what music best expresses the character of the dance. The music of American Smooth is trending towards electronic forms of the tango and towards pop ballads in place of traditional Viennese Waltzes; meanwhile, the music of American Rhythm is trending away from its Cuban roots and towards hip hop. These innovations could potentially revitalize ballroom dance music for new audiences and also help dancers to reach a …

Observed Internal Mechanisms Of Clarinet Performance: Annotated Bibliography, Michael Dirnberger

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Woodwind instrumental pedagogy is a complex and broad field of study, and its traditions and misconceptions of teaching and playing are deeply ingrained in our modern methods of instrumental pedagogy. These lingering misunderstandings within our teaching traditions turn people away from the practice of instrumental music-making and hold others back from reaching their true potential. Comparing the observed physical realities of performing musicians with the physical effect produced by some of the most popular tools in clarinet pedagogy has revealed that the syllabic guide to pedagogy is not always using the most optimal syllables to guide students in the right …

The Evolution Of The Bel Canto Technique Through The 20th And 21st Century: Annotated Bibliography, Claudia Diaz

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

The Bel canto technique is the quintessential technique of opera performance. Throughout history, it has adapted itself and survived through pedagogies, composers, influential artists, and scientific specialists from the field. Although the bel canto technique has a wide range of sources and complete history, this will focus more on the evolution occurring through the 20^th and 21^st centuries. How the bel canto technique has managed to survive is key to understanding its future.

Copland And Bernstein: How The American Left Responds To Mccarthyism Through Music: An Annotated Bibliography, Rachel Clausing

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein were not only two of the most influential American composers but were also important cultural figures in left-wing American politics throughout their lifetimes. As public figures with sometimes communist sympathies, they fell victim to McCarthyism’s Red Scare tactics like so many others did, facing scrutiny from the US government. The Cold War era, marked by a contradictory combination of a cultural push for family values and consumerism with the overarching fear of foreign infiltration and nuclear annihilation, led to a feeling of anxiety and mistrust. In this paper, I examine the ways in which Copland’s …

Adult Recreational Music-Making And Its Place In Piano Pedagogy: An Examination Of The Value Of Rmm To Both Student And Teacher, Jen Bowlds

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

This project aims to answer the following research question: How can the piano pedagogy community embrace the Recreational Music Making movement to expand its reach among adults and transform the piano teacher’s sense of professional satisfaction and career sustainability? I will examine the opportunities that exist within piano pedagogy and the growth potential for RMM as a valuable pedagogical approach for adult group piano classes. As is routinely used in strategic business planning, a SWOT analysis will be conducted to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the RMM movement within the piano pedagogy field. A relatively new (and …

Assuming An Editorial Role To Establish Performance Interpretations: Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

As more and more sources in musical scores become available nowadays, made possible by the discovery and editing of composers’ manuscripts and the publication of and multiple critical editions, performers often find the need to consult multiple editions of the same piece and the original sources (if available) to come up with one’s own performance edition. This process has become essential in my own music making experience as a performer, because it lays down a foundation for making appropriate interpretive decisions and gaining a more thorough understanding of the music for analytical and performance purposes. I refer to the process …

Technology, Artistic Collaboration, And Performance Practice In Bella Voce’S 2019 Recording Of Brahms’ A German Requiem, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

How do the recordist, conductor, and performers work together to create a unique recorded statement within the discourse between a 19^th century composer and a 21^st century listener in Bella Voce’s 2019 recording of Brahms A German Requiem (1871 London Version)?

The complexity of preparing a musical work and creating a recording of its performance encompasses many disciplines and the collaboration of many individuals. The process involves questions of performance practice, recording technique, applications of digital technology, and artistic choices on the part of all involved. The 2019 Bella Voce recording of Brahms’ A German Requiem is an …

Kundiman As A Politically Contested Artistic Space In The Marcos Era: Annotated Bibliography, Jane Wee

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Kundiman is a Filipino art song where Filipino poetry, often about courtship and love, is set into music. Like its Western counterpart, the German Lieder, the music in Kundiman seeks to reflect the words and the context of each phrase as true as possible. For centuries, Filipinos have used kundiman to express their dissent against oppression and colonization. It is quite common for Filipino composers and poets to express their nationalism in the subject of “courtship” since censorship was highly implemented throughout history.

Years later, we see the same patterns of revolutionary tactics and expression of nationalism. But what happens …

How Notation Dictates Our Musical Understanding: Annotated Bibliography, Simon Webber

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Musical notation has a long and diverse history. The traditions of ancient Greece differ substantially from that of India or China in both content and technique, and even the Greek church has distinct notation from the Latin church. In our modern world there is an accepted notational style utilized for Western classical music, but the disparate regional and cultural styles that we may observe in history yields a deeper understanding of those cultures: what musical elements were prioritized over others, what performers were expected to interpret instead of purely reading, how their tonal structure is imparted. Contemporary musical notation has …

Friedenstag By Richard Strauss: An Exploration Of The Effect Of Nazi Propaganda On German Composers, Benjamin Swain

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Richard Strauss was one of the most influential German composers in the first half of the 20^th century. His relationship with the Nazi Party has been a topic of debate among musicologists and historians for some time and the question of whether Strauss attempted to resist the regime through his work remains. Strauss’s opera Friedenstag has garnered much of this debate as it can be seen as either a piece of propaganda or a piece of pacifist resistance. Given the reach of the Nazi propaganda machine, there is little question that Strauss would have been influenced by it. This …

Communication Through Conducting: The Effects Of Verbal And Nonverbal Gestures On A Musical Ensemble, Jordon Schultze

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Conducting as an artform has drastically changed throughout music history. The modern conductor assumes the role of leader, educator, and coach for a given ensemble. Their duty as a leader is to be the vessel from the composer to the ensemble to the audience. This process can only be completed with practical communication skills. These skills involve verbal communication (CCVS, figurative language, and instructions) and nonverbal communication (gestures, CCVS, and rehearsal preparation). These skills make up the vital role and responsibility of a conductor. A conductor is also responsible for balancing the importance and use of verbal and nonverbal communication, …

Enter Hallownest: How The Music Assists The Narrative In Hollow Knight, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Annotated bibliography exploring sources on how music communicates story within the context of video games.

The Story Of Orpheus And Eurydice As Told In L’Orfeo Vs. “Hadestown”: Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

An analysis of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice as told in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo and Mitchell’s “Hadestown,” with some brief history and context of the time periods in which these works were written and performed, and how certain ideals and values have changed and altered over time within society. In addition to descriptions of musical form and orchestration of these works, comparisons between both works will be made as they relate to the original myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as discussion on how much of the origin story was retained with each retelling.

Andy Thurlow’S Anarchestra: Traditional Musical Paradigms Brought Into Question: An Annotated Bibliography, Alex Moulton

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Joining the words Anarchy and Orchestra, Thurlow’s inventive ensemble, Anarchestra breaks down barriers to musical experience. Thurlow seeks to make a musical experience that everyone can participate in. Thurlow creates anarchy by calling out several musical paradigms – that music is something other than sound over time, that it needs to follow rules of tonality, and that musicians must be absolute experts in their craft. Thurlow invents his own instruments, and his instruments are designed to be easy to play and free players from any preconceived notions when it comes to making music. These instruments have no history or methodology …

Digital Evolution: How The Development Of Digital Audio Technologies Have Changed The Way Video Game Composers Create Music, Mason Cooke

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

This work provides annotations for a collection of sources relevant to the topic above.

The “Mozart Effect”, Joshua Bonillas

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

The “Mozart Effect” is a name given to a supposed increase in cognitive functions due to listening to music before, or during, a task, such as taking a test. The name comes from the media after the original study, done by Rauscher, Shaw, and Ky, used Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major.

The 31-Tone Tuning System Of Nicola Vicentino And The Toroidal Tonnetz: An Annotated Bibliography, Kevin Mcfarland

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Nicola Vicentino’s treatise L’antica musica ridotta alla moderna prattica (1555), from here on L’antica musica, argues that contrapuntal practices based on modes derived from the diatonic tetrachord are insufficient to express the variety of emotions possible in vocal text settings, and that composers should be inspired by the other Ancient Greek genera as described by Boethius, the chromatic and enharmonic tetrachords. To employ these alternative genera, Vicentino devised an ingenious system that extended quarter-comma mean tone temperament to a thirty-one-tone system that can be neatly approximated by a division of the octave into thirty-one equal parts.