Music Commons^™

Why Was I Not Made Of Stone., Ian Callen

Graduate Thesis Collection

The original inspiration for this work came from Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame when Quasimodo asks the gargoyles on the cathedral “Why was I not made of stone like thee?” as he watches Esmerelda ride off. This piece is an attempt to express the aspect of the human state contained in Quasimodo’s words. I believe that this piece succeeds in communicating both the innate humanity in the futile search for a state of invulnerability and the intrinsic value and beauty of despair. It is neither optimistic or pessimistic but rides a fine line between the two without being …

Songs About Words, Justin Hung

Graduate Thesis Collection

A song cycle for baritone and mixed chamber ensemble, "Songs about Words" consists of five songs for everyday concepts and subjects, and explores deeper themes of communication and identity. The ensemble consists of piano, accordion, tenor saxophone, percussion and double bass. The text was inspired by Pablo Neruda and written by the composer.

Red Towers, Sean Kisch

Graduate Thesis Collection

Red Towers is named after Bratislava Castle in Bratislava, Slovakia. I spent the summers of 2017 and 2019 traveling to different cities in Slovakia, and since my own heritage is Slovak, I began thinking about the idea of "home." What makes a home a home? Where was home for me? Red Towers is divided into two sections. In the first section I tried to capture the feeling of excitement that comes with leaving home, exploring the unknown, and experiencing new things. The second section is much more gentle and contemplative, and expresses the longing to return home. I decided on …

Applying “El Sistema”: An Analysis Of The People’S Music School In Chicago, Illinois, Elizabeth Schmidt

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

"Founded in 1975 by José Antonio Abreu in Venezuela, El Sistema is a music education program that gives underprivileged children the opportunity to learn to play a string instrument in a youth orchestra setting. The mission of the program is to promote long-term social change through the character development that accompanies instrumental music education. El Sistema has since grown to include over one million students in Venezuela, and its mission has inspired educators in the United States to create similar programs. These El Sistema-inspired programs serve students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, aiming to provide students with hope and teach lifelong …

A Constant Haunting, Russ Wilcox

Graduate Thesis Collection

A three movement work for wind ensemble and soprano soloist.

The Correlation Of Classical, Jazz, And Pop Music To A Reduction Of Dental Anxiety Experienced By Adult Patients, Heather Wright

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This study explored whether passive music listening caused a decrease in dental anxiety experienced by adult dental hygiene patients and whether there was a difference between genres of music: classical, jazz or pop. This study also looked at the effect of song familiarity and patient music preference on any decrease in anxiety. I worked with sixty adult patients, who were randomly assigned to listen to classical, jazz, pop, or no music at all. Each patient took a dental anxiety survey before and after their teeth cleaning. These surveys were based on the Modified Corah Dental Anxiety Scale. Music was selected …

Reflections Of The Don: Zerlina's Empowerment Narrative And The Inclusion Of "Per Queste Tue Manine" In Don Giovanni, Sarah Miller

Graduate Thesis Collection

After the premiere of Don Giovanni in Prague, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte brought their opera to Vienna on May 7, 1788. One point of interest in the Viennese version of the score is the added duet “Per queste tue manine.” In this duet, the enraged Zerlina overpowers the bewildered servant Leporello with a handkerchief, a razor, and passion. She constrains the floundering fool and punishes him for his misconduct. In most modern performances, companies look no further than the Prague version of the score. Additionally, singers often portray Zerlina as either a mischievous temptress or a virginal …

10 Pieces For Vincent: A Suite For Mixed Chamber Ensemble, Cade Leinbach

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This suite consists of 10 different pieces of music, for a mixed chamber ensemble of flute, clarinet, tenor sax, trumpet, horn, bass trombone, violin, viola, cello and Percussion. Each movement is based on a specific painting by the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). In the short time span of a decade, this incredibly misunderstood man created some of the most iconic pieces of art in our culture. As a whole, this suite is meant to depict both the art and life of Vincent, while paying homage to this man who is still relevant in modern society, despite having died …

Overgrown, Tori C. Ovel

Graduate Thesis Collection

OVERGROWN discusses the music elements found in the thesis composition of the same name.

OVERGROWN was written for soprano solo, flute, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet, trombone, vibraphone, percussion, cello and double bass. The text was written by Matthew Raymond Smith.

On The Presence Of Christ, William A. Peacock

Graduate Thesis Collection

On the Presence of Christ is a musical work for septet (three strings, three winds, percussion) exploring Christ’s presence throughout all time as described in Scripture, wherein the individual movements are thematically grounded and arranged from ancient past to coming future. “In the Beginning” is based on Genesis 1:1-2 and John 1:1-5; “At the Throne” is based on Revelation 4:2-11; and “With His Saints Forever” is based in Revelation 21:1-5a and 22-23. I use these chosen Scriptures to guide my musical exploration, allowing my reflections and perspectives on them to give this music its substance and form My hope is …

And God Said..., Bryan Sanoshy

Graduate Thesis Collection

And God Said… is a modern interpretation of the well-known Biblical story about the creation of the world. Scriptures tell us that the entire world was formed in mere seven-day span. Each movement is very unique and specific to the corresponding day they represent.

Spectral Radiance, Coleman Rowlett

Graduate Thesis Collection

Spectral Radiance is a concerto for alto saxophone and chamber orchestra. In this paper, the influence of Franz Schreker's Kammersymphonie on Rowlett's compositional inspiration is discussed in detail. In addition, the various compositional elements that make up the work are explained. These include elements of form, motivic development, sharing themes between movements, and harmony. Rowlett's use of these compositional elements aims to create cohesion throughout the work as a whole. The paper acts as a guide, retracing the steps taken by the composer during the composition of the concerto.

Lake Pleasant, Ryan Blauvelt

Graduate Thesis Collection

Lake Pleasant, a work for wind ensemble, receives its title from the composer’s memories of visiting a cottage on a small lake that straddles the border of Indiana and Michigan. The primary influence of the piece derives from the howling sound produced by the echoes of traffic noise one hears while standing on the opposite side of the lake in the quiet of night. The recollection of this soundscape takes the musical form of nine clarinets spread throughout the audience accompanied by pairs of flutes, oboes, saxophones, trumpets, and a single piccolo. While the placement of performers in the audience …

The Soul Of Black Opera: W.E.B. Du Bois’S Veil And Double Consciousness In William Grant Still’S Blue Steel, Toiya Lister

Graduate Thesis Collection

In The Souls of Black Folk (1903), W.E.B. Du Bois theorized that black peoples were viewed behind a metaphorical “veil” that consisted of three interrelated aspects: the skin as an indication of African Americans’ difference from their white counterparts, white people’s lack of capacity to see African Americans as Americans, and African Americans’ lack of capacity to see themselves outside of the labels white America has given them. This, according to Du Bois, resulted in the gift and curse of “double consciousness,” the feeling that one’s identity is divided. As African Americans fought for socio-political equality, the reconciliation of these …

Carnegie Hall Recital Poster, Kate Boyd

Scholarship and Professional Work – Arts

No abstract provided.

We Just Want My People Thriving: Hip Hop As A Catalyst For Social Change In St. Louis, Joel Pettus Iii

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

St. Louis, regularly listed as one of the most segregated cities in the United States, has long been a hotbed of racial tension. As a current resident of St. Louis County, and a former resident of a subsection of St. Louis County called Ferguson, I have witnessed the havoc a history of racism, segregation and violence can wreak on a community. The silver lining of such an environment is the resulting creative talent that focuses its efforts on chronicling its surroundings. In this case, local artists have sought to illustrate St. Louis’ complicated history and uncertain future. Since hip hop …

Music And The Movement: Understanding Occupy Wall Street, Benjamin Scott Holbrook

Graduate Thesis Collection

On September 17, 2011, protestors set up camp in Zuccotti Park in New York's financial district, initiating a 59-day social and political movement known as Occupy Wall Street. Writing about the protest, James C. McKinley Jr. of the New York Times declared that the movement "lacks a melody" compared with protest movements of the previous century. Despite the common perception that little music accompanied the movement, organizers released Occupy This Album: 99 Songs for the 99%, a collection of songs connected with, written for, or written about the Occupy Wall Street movement. This thesis investigates the place of Occupy Wall …

Dear…,, Tiffany Mckinney

Graduate Thesis Collection

This paper discusses my thesis piece Dear...,. It describes how the piece was put together and the deeper symbolism of aspects of the music.

Surfaces, Rob Funkhouser

Graduate Thesis Collection

Surfaces is a work for two percussionists in four movements. It uses a variety of small percussion instruments, keyboard percussion, and two specially built kalimbas. This document contains both the score and an analysis of the piece that covers instrument choice, performance practice, form and compositional techniques employed

Indigiana, Elizabeth A. Knox

Graduate Thesis Collection

Indigiana, for orchestra and audio soundscape, is dedicated to the 2016 bicentennial celebration of the State of Indiana. The title is derived from the words, ‘Indiana,’ ‘Digital,’ and ‘Indigenous.’ Its programmatic style is based on the natural landscape and my reflections on four Indiana state parks. In addition to the state's bicentennial honor, Indiana celebrated its 100^th anniversary of the purchase of its first two recreational facilities, McCormick's Creek and Turkey Run State Park.² To honor the state and my family’s longstanding heritage as Hoosiers, I used the natural landscape and environmental sounds of four Indiana state parks …

Folk Music In A Digital Age: The Importance Of Face-To-Face Community Values In Filk Music, Sally Childs-Helton

Scholarship and Professional Work

Filk is broadly defined as the traditional folk-based music and related community created by and for a sub-community of science fiction and fantasy fans. Born in the 1950s, filk today includes international participants of various experience levels and musical styles. Social context and music are equally important in this tradition; prominent values include self-expression, play and building a face-to-face co-creative, collaborative group experience. This article, founded on Textual Poachers (1992), assumes that filk remains a folk music in many ways, and that filkers still prefer face-to-face musical and personal interaction in spite of a lively, diverse online filk community. I …

Chants For Peace (With Drones) (2016), Frank Felice

Music Faculty Scores

Fretless bass guitar, live electronics, and fixed media (2.1, 8.1) – commissioned by Barry and Sally Childs-Helton; premiered by Frank Felice, January, 2016, Indianapolis, Indiana

Tu Lo Sai | 10-96190, James Q. Mulholland

Music Faculty Scores

Tu Lo Sai

Part Number: 10-96190

Price: $1.80

Voicing: TTBB

Transcription By: Piero Floridia

Music By: Giuseppe Torelli

Arranged By: James Q. Mulholland

Commissioned by the "Singing Statesmen"University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireGary Schwartkoff, director

And I Will Sing A Lullaby | 20-95750, Robert I. Hugh, Henry Leck

Music Faculty Scores

And I Will Sing a Lullaby

Part Number:
20-95750

Price:
$1.85

Voicing:
Two-Part Treble

Lyrics By:
William Blake & Thomas Dekker

Music By:
Robert I. Hugh

Edited By:
Henry Leck

Featured at:
2016 TCDA Convention
2016 KCDA Summer Conference

Branch Of May, A - Ttbb | 41-96550, James Q. Mulholland

Music Faculty Scores

A Branch of May (I Brought You Here)

Part Number: 41-96550

Voicing: TTBB

Lyrics By: Tradition May-Day Song

Music By: James Q. Mulholland

Branch Of May, A - Satb | 10-96020, James Q. Mulholland

Music Faculty Scores

A Branch of May (I Brought You Here)

Part Number: 10-96020

Voicing: SATB & Treble

Lyrics By: Tradition May-Day Song

Music By: James Q. Mulholland

Theseus And The Minotaur, Ben Lutterbach

Graduate Thesis Collection

Theseus and the Minotaur is a four movement, through-composed chamber work for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, and double bass. The work explores elements of fear, chaos, love, and aggression.

One Thousand North, Amber Beams

Graduate Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

The Creation Of Fear Through Censorship: Repression Of Artistic Freedom In The Music Of The Syrian Revolution, Rebecca Aliah Ajamoughli

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

"God, Syria, freedom, and that is all." These four words embody the goals of the Syrian Revolution. Yet, there is one key element of this chant that raises questions surrounding its meaning: freedom. For decades, the people of Syria have been subjected to restricted freedom by the Assad regime-especialIy musicalIy. The regime has artfulIy used music to legitimize its claim to the country. This utilization varies from early-learned pro-Baath chants to the monitoring of all performances held in the country. As Lisa Wedeen says in her work Ambiguities of Domination, "[this control of culture] isolates Syrians from one another, and …

Digital Expressionism And Christopher Wheeldon’S Alice’S Adventures In Wonderland: What Contemporary Choreographers Can Learn From Early Twentieth-Century Modernism, Kelly Oden

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

How can classical ballet adapt to a world that is in an ever more rapid state of flux? By uncovering an example of the kind of interdisciplinary artistic collaboration that contributed to the thriving artistic environment of the early twentieth century, a model for artistic success emerges. By examining modernism and Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in relation to Christopher Wheeldon’s groundbreaking 2011 ballet Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a correlation between the success of the Ballets Russes and the success of Wheeldon is exposed. I argue that by applying the modernist practice of interdisciplinary interaction to his own productions, Wheeldon …