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In Seeking A Definition Of Mash: Attitude In Musical Style, Thomas Cassell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

“Mash” is a term used to describe one of the most recent major style shifts in the iconic American string band music known as bluegrass. Beginning in the 1990s, the bluegrass sound began to evolve, and ‘mash’ worked its way into the genre as a descriptor of a certain sound. Though a handful of scholars have discussed the social stigmas of the style, no one yet has investigated the simple musical question about mash: what is it?

The purpose of this thesis is to define mash in its musical form through a combination of transcription methods and extensive analysis. Through …

Marine Melodies: Traditional Scottish And Irish Mermaid And Selkie Songs As Performed By Top Female Vocalists In Contemporary Celtic Music, Olivia H. Phillips

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mermaids and human-seal hybrids, called selkies, are a vibrant part of Celtic folklore, including ballad and song traditions. Though some of these songs have been studied in-depth, there is a lack of research comparing them to each other or to their contemporary renditions. This research compares traditional melodies and texts of the songs “The Mermaid,” “The Grey Selchie of Sule Skerry,” and “Hó i Hó i” to contemporary recordings by top female vocalists in Scottish and Irish music.

The texts and melodies I have identified as “source” material are those most thoroughly examined by early ballad and folklore scholars. The …

Ja Rusyn Byl (I Am Rusyn): Household Folk Music As Resistance To Oppression, Spencer Mcneill

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

The Rusyns are a people indigenous to the Carpathian Mountains and its surrounding areas. Despite attempts by the Ukrainian government and surrounding nations to silently erase Rusyn culture from history, the Rusyn people have a distinct identity independent from that of any bordering nation. This unique identity is best outlined through Rusyn folk songs which depict pastoral images of the Carpathian homeland and patriotic tales of Rusyn ancestry. Much work to date has already been done documenting post Velvet Revolution revival of Rusyn culture. Because of this, I will instead focus on the lesser-known time prior and leading up to …

Songs Of The Sea And The Sailor: Demystifying The Mythology Of British Sailing Culture, Henry Strobel

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

Sea shanties have generally been accepted as the main relic of the culture of British sailors: a mythology that permeates the 19th and 20th century describing the harsh, unforgiving and yet in many ways romanticized life at sea. The repertoire of this time was eventually written down and catalogued by folk music collectors such as Cecil J. Sharp, who were hoping to record and preserve the British identity for generations to come. However, in researching the etymology of these songs as well as the first-hand accounts of sailors, there is a significantly greater layer of complexity to this history than …

Introduction To World Music, Antoni Piza

Open Educational Resources

MUS102 Syllabus & weekly course schedule

Songs For The Journey: The Music Of Pilgrimage, Joshua Taylor

Doctor of Pastoral Music Projects and Theses

Pilgrimage has been a part of Christian experience since biblical times. Creating new stories, pilgrimage affords sacred travelers experiences that transcend nationalism, denominational identity, and cultural borders melding their individual constructs of meaning with communal experiences to create new insights. On these pilgrimages, music has played a significant role in the development of community. While pilgrimage is an independent act, it is also a shared existence with other pilgrims with music serving as a bridge between these two realities. With an estimated 100 million people undertaking pilgrimages at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the rediscovery of pilgrimage, and the …

The Making Of An Avant-Gardist: A Study Of Rafael Aponte-Ledée’S Early Life And Works (1957–1966), Noel Torres-Rivera

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation explores the interconnectedness of political and musical discourses in Latin America by examining the formative years of Puerto Rican composer Rafael Aponte-Ledée (b. 1938), a leading figure in the Puerto Rican avant-garde movement in the late 1960s. Through extensive archival research, oral history, and qualitative field work, I analyze his time as a student at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid (1957-1964) and at the Centro Latinoamericano de Altos Estudios Musicales del Instituto Torcuato Di Tella in Buenos Aires (1965-1966). With this, I address the intricate network of musical works, events, mentors, institutional discourses, textbooks, technologies, …

The American Symphony Orchestra Today: Problems In Community, Diversity, And Representation, Hilary Slade Jansen

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation examines the symphony orchestra and its socio-political context in the United States. Using three orchestral case studies—the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Venezuela’s El Sistema—I examine the ways in which American symphony orchestras have responded both today and in the past to the public and academic discourse around social inclusion. Interweaving musicology, sociology, urban anthropology, cultural studies, education, economics, ethnomusicology, economics, data from grant-giving institutions, and from symphony orchestras themselves, I seek to situate the wider discourse on social justice in the arts (which has, until recently, lived largely outside of academia) within a musicological …

New Chinese Music In New York City: From Revival To Musical Transnationalism, Serena Yiai Wang

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The Pulitzer Prize (2011, Zhou Long’s Madame White Snake), a Metropolitan opera commission (Tan Dun’s The First Emperor, premiered 2006), and the Ives Living Award (Chen Yi, 2001) are just some of the high-profile awards and commission bestowed upon Chinese émigré composers who have studied and built their professional reputation in New York City. The works of Chinese composers constitute what I call “new Chinese music,” which I argue has played a defining role in New York City’s cultural landscape and in the development of Western art music in general. The influence of Chinese composers and their works …

Death Of The Composer: How Mahler’S Preoccupation With Death Reveals Itself In His Orchestral Works, Reid Cox

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Gustav Mahler is a man of juxtapositions, and it shows in his compositions. Between the deaths of his siblings, his parents, eldest daughter, and a fatal heart condition, Mahler was surrounded by ideas and the possibility of death. This likely motivated many of his works, with pieces such as Das Lied von der Erde ending with Mahler confronting his own mortality. Throughout these works, death is treated differently, for example, in the Fourth Symphony, Death is personified and is presented as a solo fiddle. However, many of these pieces end with a hopeful note, such as in the Second Symphony …

Examining The Neoclassicism In Ravel’S Composition: Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

This article mainly analyzes the neoclassicism in Ravel's works to have a deeper understanding of Ravel. The first part of this article will discuss the definition of neoclassicism and roughly analyze the elements of neoclassicism in other arts, such as architecture and painting. Ravel's works include neoclassical elements. The third part carefully analyzes which parts of the score reflect neoclassicism and explains the reasons in detail.

How Music Theory Sequencing Can Improve Classroom Management And Attention Issues In Beginner Students' Piano Lessons, Greta Dilyte

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

This research has been inspired by an observation of the different music-theoretical concepts and their sequencing in different piano methods. After working in three different countries as a piano teacher I wanted to explore differences and similarities as well as improve my lesson engagement level by beginning students, which is admittedly the most complicated level to teach mainly due to the focus maintenance issues. This is the evidence of my preliminary research which can be used and explored by any piano teacher who is interested in incorporating music theory concepts in their classroom, to help with attention issues, more all-rounded …

Focal Dystonia: Roads To Rehabilitation Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

A look into the different pathways of rehabilitation of musicians of developed focal dystonia in terms of different types of treatment and ways to cope with the condition.

The Evaluative Rubric Of 19th Century Parisian Operagoers: Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

My research seeks to identify the rubric used by 19th century Parisians to evaluate the quality of a given “Grand Opéra.” The works listed below shed light on that rubric. They particularly emphasize the importance of formal adherence, cultural relevance, totality, and sexual gratification to the Parisian operagoer.

The Evolving Philosophical Stance Of Richard Wagner And The Effects On His Female Characters From Senta To Kundry, Aoife Shanley

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

This bibliography analyzes the multiple effects of the philosophers Hegel, Schopenhauer, and Nietzsche on the works of Richard Wagner. By analyzing the contradictions of these philosophers and the different manifestations of their ideas in the different works of Wagner, it is easy to see which philosopher held the greatest hold on Wagner at a certain time. Wagner marries the philosophies of Hegel and Schopenhauer despite the fact they considered themselves to be on polar opposites of the philosophical spectrum. However, asceticism and a quest for purity ultimately seem to be the driving forces behind Wagner’s operas and depictions of women …

Works Cited, Lucy Prichard

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Parts Of The Voice - Why Learning Vocal Structure Early Makes A Difference: Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

This annotated bibliography describes the sources used to support the statement that vocal anatomy should be implemented into early music education.

Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

This is an annotated bibliography in regards to Baroque Ornamentation in The Bach Partita No. 2 in D Minor.

The “Jazz Chopin”: How Bill Evans’ Music Was Influenced By French Impressionists: Annotated Bibliography, Lucas Larreau

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

This is an annotated bibliography of sources which identify, support, and analyze the connection between French Impressionist music and Bill Evans' musical style.

Tunesmith Terror Techniques: Identifying Patterns In The Music Of Horror Video Games: Annotated Bibliography, Sean Kelliher

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Ludomusicology, the study of music in video games, is a relatively new field in musicology that faces unique obstacles, like the lack of a standardized analytical method. This paper will use the ALI model proposed by Isabella van Elferen along with techniques suggested by Tim Summers to analyze various video games in the horror genre. Along with using analysis of other games as sources, this paper will compare the compositional techniques used to identify patterns that do or do not show up.

Maria Schneider’S Voicing Techniques: Annotated Bibliography, Aaron Fradin

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Since her emergence on the jazz scene, Maria Schneider has made a name for herself all around the world with her unique compositional voice. Despite her ever-increasing prominence and influence as a jazz composer, there is a startling lack of scholarly work on how she writes for her ensemble. It is my aim to begin to fill that gap by examining how she voices chords at critical moments in her pieces and juxtaposing the techniques in her earliest works, latest works, and traditional writing techniques.

The Progression Of The Musical Theatre Belt In Upper Voices: Annotated Bibliography, Kathryn Cymerman

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

A pedagogical look into the progression of the musical theatre belt in upper voices, with emphasis on the introduction of the mix.

Memorizing Music: A Problem That A Pianist Has To Face, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

As we all know, now the piano is usually an instrument that needs to be played by memory. Except piano ensemble pieces, most solo piano pieces are required to be performed by memory, even including piano concerto works. For a long time, many pianists have had mixed attitudes towards memorizing music.

The Awakening Of Islamic Pop Music, Jonas Otterbeck

Music & Performance in Muslim Contexts

Awakening – an Islamic media company formed in London – has created the soundtrack to many Muslim lives during the last two decades. It has produced three superstars (Sami Yusuf, Maher Zain and Harris J.) among a host of other artists. As the company celebrates their first 20 years in the industry, Jonas Otterbeck examines their remarkable rise to success and their established reputation as one of the most important global enterprises producing pop music inspired by Islam.

Otterbeck thoroughly describes the history and development of new Islamic popular music genres, in particular pop-nashid and Islamic pop, for the first …

Correlations In Acquiring Musician’S Dystonia Amongst Professional Musicians: Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Dystonia happens at a remarkable rate amongst musicians. The definition of acquired dystonia are types of dystonia that develop from other factors that cause damage or degenerate to the body the brain. Dystonia is a disease that is not fully understood by science and requires more research to uncover the disease’s abundance in professional musicians. Many medical studies have been done in regards to dystonia in the general population but there is still large questions about why dystonia is a crisis in the musical world. It is a topic misunderstood by most musicians and largely mysterious to the majority of …

Bollywood Production: Cultural Values And Studio Decisions: Annotated Bibliography, Tyler Thom

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

As India’s popular music, Bollywood has been used to discuss cultural representation and diffusion of ideas throughout India and the world. Musical, video, and pop culture analysis have widely been conducted but far less research has been done on the recording methods applied. Studio “magic” has been credited for the correction and production of modern music but editing decisions and mixing techniques are consciously chosen by an engineer and thus can be studied as an artistic endeavor. How are recording and mixing methods influenced and reflective of the cultural audience? While many techniques of music production originated in the West, …

Voiced Gender Signifiers Within ‘As One’ A Chamber Opera: Annotated Bibliography, Samuel Sherman

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

‘As One’, a popular modern chamber opera by composer Laura Kaminsky, presents the transition of transgender woman, Hannah. Hannah, however, is casted and composed as two separate voices, a baritone and mezzo-soprano, thus creating “Hannah before” and “Hannah after”. In doing so, a dichotomy of thought surrounding the attributes of a binary based practice of vocalization and character representation is created. Through the analysis of gender theory, voiced gender theory, and the ‘As One’ chamber opera, storytelling of complex gender-based characters may be solidified within biased gender compositional and musical tools. In discovering these repetitive actions through socially constructed stereotypes …

Narrative In Debussy’S Sonata For Flute, Viola And Harp: Annotated Bibliography, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

An annotated bibliography to a proposed paper on narrative in Debussy’s Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp.

Relationship Between Vocal Technique, Classification, And Appropriate Repertoire For The Tenor Voice, Joan Sebastian Marquez Unda

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Within the training and career of a lyrical singer, it is necessary to approach a question: Why is it important to know the vocal classification and the technique for the correct assignment of the repertoire? Although the answer forces us to delve a little deeper into the history of the classification of voices by sex, we will also focus on characteristics that section lyrical voices by their tessitura, timbre and intensity, with a special emphasis on the tenor voice.

The Jingwei Bird Sings Performative Resistance: Music And Arts Programming As Catharsis, Acculturation, And Cultural Remembrance For Refugees In U.S. Immigration Detention Centers, University Of Denver

Musicology and Ethnomusicology: Student Scholarship

Scholarship on immigration detention centers as sites for musical exchange and identity formation remain largely unresearched. Adelaida Reyes in her groundbreaking work, Songs of the Caged, Songs of the Free, offers insight into the “heterogeneity” of resettlement camps and their ambiguous sovereignty. Her work, however, does not examine the musical environments and ecologies of modern large-scale immigrant detention centers, nor these center’s specific musical identities. Significant analyses of music programming in detention centers include musicologists Donna Weston and Caroline Lenette’s article, “Performing Freedom: The Role of Music-Making in Creating a Community in Asylum Seeker Detention Centres” and ethnomusicologist Julia Morris’s …