Music Commons^™

Robert Nelson's A Room With A View: The Creation Of A Contemporary Opera, Marcello Cormio

Theses and Dissertations--Music

My recent engagement as music director and conductor of Robert Nelson’s A Room with a View (1992, rev. 2004) has offered me the valuable opportunity to work on an opera side by side with its composer. The purpose of this dissertation is to reconstruct the various stages of the process of creation, interpretation, and performance of a contemporary opera, addressing aspects of the collaboration between the composer and the conductor.

The methodology used in my research is based primarily on direct observation and interview. The investigation is conducted from the perspective of a “participant-observer,” due to my personal involvement in …

Childe Roland: String Quartet, Percussion And Electric Guitar, David Blevins

Theses and Dissertations--Music

An original composition in five movements for string quartet, percussion and electric guitar. Majority of the electric guitar parts are marked “quasi-improvisation”, with the intent of allowing the player freedom to explore their own creativity and expand upon the notated guitar parts as desired. The percussion parts, also marked “quasi-improvisation”, allow the player to expand upon the notated rhythms and choose their own combination of muted wood blocks as desired.

The name of this piece and its individual movements pay homage to the author Steven King and his series of books known as the The Dark Tower. Much of …

A Performance Guide For Lyric Tenor: A Pedagogical Analysis Of Ten Francesco Paolo Tosti Songs, Mark Aaron Kano

Theses and Dissertations--Music

This study provides background information, International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions and pronunciations, poetic translations, and pedagogical analyses of ten Francesco Paolo Tosti songs. Included is the connection between the rhythm and meter of the poetry and its’ influence on Tosti’s setting of the text to music. In addition, a portion is devoted to an overview of pedagogy, specifically, appoggio, registers and passaggi in the lyric tenor voice, range and, as well as chiaroscuro. This document addresses potential vocal challenges presented for the lyric tenor voice within each song, as well as the benefits. In particular, suggestions for vowel …

Music As Narrative In American College Football, John M. Mccluskey

Theses and Dissertations--Music

American college football features an enormous amount of music woven into the fabric of the event, with selections accompanying approximately two-thirds of a game’s plays. Musical selections are controlled by a number of forces, including audio and video technicians, university marketing departments, financial sponsors, and wind bands. These blend together in a complex design that offers audible and visual stimulation to the audience during the game’s pauses. The music chosen for performance in these moments frequently communicates meaning beyond entertainment value. Selections reinforce the game’s emotional drive, cue celebrations, direct specific audience actions, and prompt behaviors that can directly impact …

The Effect Of Implied Performer Age, Implied Performer Gender, And Performance Quality Level On Music Majors’ Evaluations Of Solo Musical Performances, Ann M. Harrington

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of implied performer age, implied performer gender, and performance quality level on undergraduate music majors’ evaluations of solo alto saxophone performances. Participants (N = 124) were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions: (a) good quality musical performances with images of male performers, (b) good quality musical performances with images of female performers, (c) poor quality musical performances with images of male performers, and (d) poor quality musical performances with images of female performers. All experimental conditions contained high quality images of the faces of both older adults …

The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective: An Ongoing Experiment In Musical Self-Governance, Julian D. Bryson

Theses and Dissertations--Music

C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective and Triad: Boston’s Choral Collective are the first choirs to explore collectivity as a method of ensemble organization. While more traditional ensembles have a single artistic director, C4 and Triad share and rotate leadership responsibilities among the full membership. Artistic and logistical decisions develop through conversation, consensus, and/or voting.

This monograph draws primarily on interviews with thirteen current and former members of the two ensembles as well as the author’s personal experiences with Triad’s inaugural concert cycle to present a narrative description of member characteristics, governance, and operational processes. Interview responses are compared to relevant …

The Adjudicator Speaks: A Study Of Choral Festival Adjudicators’ Practices, Procedures And Preferences, David L. Hensley

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Choral Festivals, whether competitive or non-competitive, involve preparation, performance, and evaluation. The process of preparing for and performing at a choral festival often leaves the conductor and choir members wondering what the adjudicators (judges) will be listening for and on what basis the choir will receive its critique. Few if any music education publications (including methods textbooks, scholarly publications, and journal articles) have addressed this topic, and those that have addressed it have failed to include the adjudicator’s point of view. This dissertation addresses the point of view of the choral festival adjudicator, giving insight into the standards of performance …

Music Therapy Interventions For End-Of-Life Care: An Integrative Literature Review, Ranjani Sukumaran

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Music therapy plays an integral role in end-of-life care, positively impacting emotional, social, physical, cognitive and spiritual health. The purpose of this integrative review was to collect and compile studies (N= 55) between 2000 and 2016 on the topic of music therapy interventions in end-of-life care, in order to provide both music therapy students and therapists access to the most recent and commonly used music therapy interventions and goals. Results of the integrative literature review indicate that the most common intervention for all age groups in end-of-life care is songwriting and composition, with the most common therapeutic goal …

Practices And Perceptions Of Music Therapists Using Songwriting Interventions With Clients Who Are Grieving, Erin Aubrey Batkiewicz

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Music therapists use songwriting interventions to address a variety of goals with several populations. Nevertheless, limited research exists regarding the use of songwriting interventions with individuals who are grieving. The purpose of this study was to examine practices and perceptions of board-certified music therapists working with clients who are grieving, specifically: (a) common interventions used to address grief (b) use of songwriting intervention; (c) perceived effectiveness of songwriting; and (d) music therapists’ comfort levels and training in implementing songwriting interventions. An online survey was sent to 6,292 board-certified music therapists, 324 of whom completed the survey. Participants reported that they …

Meter, Phrase, And Form In The Compositions Of Maria Schneider, Benjamin M. Geyer

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The central claims of this study are that Maria Schneider relies on normative rhythmic structures from the jazz tradition, and that her expressive deviations from those norms are comprehensible to experienced listeners in real time. The study proposes a non-recursive model of hypermeter wherein the measure is formed through entrainment, the four-bar sub-unit is formed through recognizable qualia at the measure level, and the eight-bar level is formed through the expectation for sub-units to group into pairs. I introduce the “structural phrase” as a unit that, while normatively hypermetrical, is distinct from the issue of hypermeter in its formal aspects …

Recommendations For Vocal Pedagogy Curriculum Based On A Survey Of Singers’ Knowledge And Research In Vocal Hygiene, Diana Lindsey Vetter

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Professional voice users such as singers and teachers are at high risk for vocal injury. A literature review was conducted to understand the prevalence of voice problems and the effectiveness of vocal hygiene education. The findings of the review suggested that in order to reduce the impact of voice disorders, it is imperative that the education of singers and teachers include how the voice functions and how to best take care of it.

The purpose of this study was to discover what students on a collegiate level know about vocal anatomy, physiology, and vocal hygiene issues. It was hypothesized that …

Current Practices In Music Therapy With Bone Marrow And Organ Transplant Recipients, Heather Humphrey

Theses and Dissertations--Music

There is limited research on music therapy for transplant recipients, yet board-certified music therapists working in medical settings often encounter individuals from the transplant population. The purpose of this study was to examine the current practices of music therapists working with bone marrow and organ transplant recipients. A total of 68 board-certified music therapists completed an online survey, providing information related to goal areas addressed in music therapy sessions and interventions frequently used with bone marrow and organ transplant patients. The most frequently reported goal areas included: coping skills, mood, and self-expression. The most frequently reported interventions included: singing, songwriting, …

Writing Moonlight: An Analysis Of Beethoven’S Piano Sonata Opus 27 No. 2 In C Sharp Minor, Andrew L. Lynch

Kaleidoscope

An analysis of the first movement of one of Beethoven’s most popular sonatas, the Moonlight Sonata, by a chemical engineering major who is a relative outsider to music. Analysis proceeds systematically: line by line and stanza by stanza. The goal of this analysis is elucidation of Beethoven’s methods for producing the atmosphere of haunting desire which pervades the piece.

“Becoming One”: Embodying Korean P’Ungmul Percussion Band Music And Dance Through Site-Specific Intermodal Transmission, Donna Lee Kwon

Music Faculty Publications

This article focuses on the P’ilbong p’ungmul transmission center as a case study of a relatively new type of cultural institution in South Korea. I examine how these transmission centers structure the experience of an expressive folk culture form by emphasizing site-specific instruction and employing intermodal pedagogical techniques that specifically heighten an awareness of the body in both place and space. I argue that the P’ilbong p’ungmul transmission center encourages the embodiment of an alternative Korean sensibility that is expressed through music, dance and other social activities, but is further enhanced by situating the body within iconically “Korean” spaces.

The Scottish Pipe Band In North America: Tradition, Transformation, And Transnational Identity, Erin F. Walker

Theses and Dissertations--Music

For Scots and non-Scots alike, the sounds of the bagpipes and the pipe band serve as a cultural metaphor for Scottish identity: the skirl of the pipes, the crisp sound of the snare drums, and the unique lilt of the music conjure an imagined Scotland of fierce, kilted clansmen and rugged, picturesque Highland scenery. This nearly global association appears to have been constructed on a series of transformations of cultural practices within Scotland itself, as well as throughout greater Britain and the lands of the Scottish diaspora, that began with the early “kiltophiles” in the late eighteenth century. …

Basic Fundamentals Of Phenomenology Of Music By Sergiu Celibidache As Criteria For The Orchestral Conductor, Lucia Marin

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The phenomenology of music is the science of studying sounds and their relationship with human beings. Conceived by the Romanian orchestra conductor Sergiu Celibidache, phenomenology of music has become a valuable source of knowledge for the orchestral conductor, offering tools that can lead to a deeper understanding of the score. In this paper I will offer an explanation of phenomenological method, applied to conducting based on my own experience, and an explanation of the basic ideas of “Celibidache’s Phenomenology of Music.”

Music Therapy Songwriting Practices With Older Adults, Kelsey M. Lownds

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Music therapists often use songwriting interventions, but limited research exists on songwriting practices with older adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate songwriting practices of board-certified music therapists working with older adults, specifically: (a) common goal areas and interventions; (b) use of songwriting interventions; (c) perceived effectiveness of songwriting; and (d) music therapists’ comfort levels and training in songwriting practices.

An online survey was sent to 515 board-certified music therapists working with older adults, 118 of whom completed the survey. Respondents reported that songwriting was most effective in increasing self-expression of older adults. Some respondents reported using songwriting …

A Survey Of Current Music Therapy Practices Addressing Motor Goals In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Matthew Proffitt

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Motor deficits in children who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have started to become recognized as an area of concern. The purpose of this study was to examine practices of board-certified music therapists who address motor goals of children with ASD. A total of 168 current board certified music therapists completed an 18-item online survey regarding music therapy practices with children who have ASD, particularly the frequency with which they address motor goals and specific goals and interventions. Respondents reported addressing motor goals with children who have ASD more frequently than suggested by previous research. Motor goals most …

The Effects Of Music Therapy And Its Impact On Sound Levels In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sarah L. Timmons

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Sound levels in the neonatal intensive care unit often exceed the recommended level of 45 dBA. Various sounds contribute to the extraneous noise that envelops this fragile environment. Increase in noise and high levels of sound can be detrimental to the health of premature infants, which can cause both short and long-term developmental delays and negative physiologic responses. Music therapy interventions in the NICU have addressed numerous needs of this population, with a positive effect on development, physiologic responses, and hospital stay. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of music therapy on decreasing the sound levels …

Gretchen’S Soliloquy “Ach Neige, Du Schmerzenreiche” From Goethe’S Faust: A Vocal Performance Analysis And Set Of Performance Guidelines For Various Solo Voice Settings, Savanna Sokolnicki

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The great novelist and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 – 1832) arguably made his most significant contribution to the artistic world with his literary masterpiece Faust I. Goethe’s love of music and melody is evident throughout all of Faust, particularly in the expressive poetry of the character of Gretchen, whose meaningful words gave inspiration to a variety of musical manifestations, especially in German Lied.

This document serves as a performance guide for vocalists. It provides vital information on the setting and arrangement of the poetry within the musical settings, the background and significance of the composer and …

A Comprehensive Method For Tuning And Pedaling Timpani, Brandon M. Arvay

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Method books are an integral part of the percussion pedagogy. Because of the vast number of instruments a modern percussionist is expected to play, they often look for progressive, concise, and effective resources that can make learning such a variety of instruments more efficient. Instructional books currently exist for many areas of percussion performance, including snare drum, mallet percussion, timpani, World music, accessories, and marching percussion. Included in these books are information and procedures on music reading, rhythm studies, listening skills, part preparation, and technical approach. Focusing on timpani methods specifically, many of these books include tuning and pedaling exercises …

The Effect Of Music Therapy Interaction On Child And Parental Preoperative Anxiety In Parents Of Children Undergoing Day Surgery, Christopher R. Millett

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Young children who experience high levels preoperative anxiety often exhibit distress behaviors, experience more surgical complications, and are at a higher risk for developing a variety of negative postoperative consequences. A significant factor in pediatric preoperative anxiety is the level of anxiety present in their caregivers. Music therapy interventions addressing a variety of procedural outcomes have been met with success. The purpose of this study was to investigate the comparative effectiveness of two music therapy interventions on reducing preoperative anxiety in young pediatric surgical patients and their caregivers.

A total of 40 pediatric patient and caregiver dyads were included in …

Creative Treatment Of Folk Melodies In Selected Cirandinhas And Cirandas Of Heitor Villa-Lobos, Eldia Carla Farias

Theses and Dissertations--Music

This study provides a comparative analysis and performance suggestions for three Cirandinhas and three Cirandas for solo piano by Heitor Villa-Lobos in order to demonstrate their aesthetic and pedagogical value. The primary objective is to argue for the significance of the Cirandas as concert works and of the Cirandinhas as didactic ones. To better explore these two sets of pieces and their interconnections, the selected Ciranda-Cirandinhas pairs are all based on the same folksong theme. Thus, the analyses also demonstrate Villa-Lobos’s desire to represent Brazilian culture through his music and the ingenuity with which he treated the same melodic material …

Adapting Traditional Kentucky Thumbpicking Repertoire For The Classical Guitar, Andrew Rhinehart

Theses and Dissertations--Music

During the first half of the twentieth century, a unique style of guitar playing known as Kentucky thumbpicking was developed by a handful of musicians in the western coal field region of Kentucky. This guitar tradition was elevated to national prominence by country guitar virtuoso Merle Travis. Subsequently, this style became characterized as "Travis Picking."

Kentucky thumbpicking incorporates a steady and muted bass line that alternates between the root, fifth or third of a chord. The bass is also accentuated with the use of a thumbpick worn on the right hand. Simultaneously, the index, occasionally middle and ring fingers, play …

Interdisciplinary Collaboration With Music Therapy During Routine Pediatric Dental Procedures, Austin S. Robinson

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The incorporation of integrative medicine into traditional treatment options has steadily increased during the past two decades. This has resulted in a change in the dynamics of interdisciplinary teams creating the need to better understand the roles and responsibilities of team members. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of dental treatment team members regarding the role and responsibilities of music therapy during treatment.

A total of 10 participants were included in this study. Participants completed a pre-music therapy survey to establish prior knowledge, experience with, and perceptions of music therapy. Following an experiential intervention, participants completed …

Music Therapy Students’ Experiences During Pre-Internship Training And The Music Therapy Internship: A Collective Case Study Using Semi-Structured Interviews, Christopher Marvin Nix

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Music therapy students engage in a variety of academic and clinical opportunities within their music therapy education. There are options for students who want to gain the basic training for certification in music therapy, either bachelor’s, or equivalency for students with a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Previous research has been used to analyze the experiences of students and educators throughout education, with no research focusing specifically on the master’s equivalency population. Within this study, semi-structured interviews were used to gain qualitative data analyzing music therapy students’ perceptions of academic and internship curricula and their effects on the transition …

The Imitation Of Roman Catholic And Byzantine Chant In Ēriks Ešenvalds’S Passion And Resurrection, Patrick J. J. Callaghan

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Ēriks Ešenvalds is an early twenty-first century composer who has been commissioned to write works for some of the most noteworthy ensembles in the world. Having written over 100 compositions to date, 72 of which are choral pieces, Ešenvalds is quickly becoming one of the most prolific and significant composers of his time. He currently works as a full-time composer out of Riga, Latvia.

Ešenvalds’s choral works are primarily unaccompanied, while some include brass band, saxophone quartet, percussion, or orchestral accompaniment. Textures vary from three to twelve voice parts. His oratorio Passion and Resurrection (2005), written for soprano solo, SATB …

Performance Practice Of Brass Band Music Of The American Civil War: A Perspective From Saxton's Cornet Band, Joel M. Crawford

Theses and Dissertations--Music

This project examines source materials, methods, and instruments required for creating an informed period performance of military brass band music from the American Civil War. The rapid development of brass bands in America combined with the volatility of the war meant that much of the development of these styles were not formally documented. To compound this problem an instrumentalist trained on modern instruments who plays on an instrument from the period will produce a sound highly colored and influenced by their sound concept on a modern instrument. Experience with the instrument and attention to their idiosyncrasies will offer the closest …

Overcoming Initial Hurdles: Strategies For Developing A University Free Improvisation Ensemble, Rui Li

Theses and Dissertations--Music

New free improvisers may come across six major problems as they learn to improvise: imbalance between technique and music, incorrect perception of limitation, imbalance between rationality and emotion, lack of enthusiasm, inability to view criticism as a source of creativity, and misunderstanding of mistakes and risks. In this thesis, I propose a set of effective pedagogical tools as possible solutions for students and groups interested in exploring the beauty of free improvisation.

An Investigation Of The Effectiveness Of Cooperative Learning As A Rehearsal Technique For Improving High School Band Performance, Karen R. Compton

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of cooperative learning as a rehearsal technique on high school full-band performance compared to traditional rehearsal methods. Two intact high school bands from the same Kentucky Music Educators Association District participated in the study. One band served as the treatment group using cooperative learning rehearsal techniques and the other group served as the control group using traditional rehearsal methods in a quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group design.

The study spanned six weeks in which both schools prepared the same performance piece, Variants by Jack Bullock. The groups were pre-tested using …