Music Commons^™

Lauryn C. Salazar: A Life History Of Mariachi Leadership, Berta Alicia Guerra

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyze Lauryn C. Salazar’s mariachi/educational leadership style by focusing on her contributions to the community of Texas Tech University and Tarleton State University. Leadership styles, as defined by Northouse, 2021, refer to the distinct approaches leaders use to guide, motivate, and influence their teams. After examining Salazar’s background to place her motivations and actions in the proper context, this study analyzed what Salazar did, how she perceived her actions, and how others perceived her actions. The life history written by the researcher was primarily based on data collected through eight interviews; however, …

Transcrite Par L'Auteur: Analyzing And Performing The Piano-Vocal Scores Of Maurice Ravel's Operas, Jordan Knapp

Theses and Dissertations

The two operas of Maurice Ravel, L’heure espagnole and L’enfant et les sortilèges, are, like most of the composer’s works, known for their innovative orchestrations and instrumental flourishes. However, the piano-vocal scores of the operas have their own unique qualities worthy of study. With the piano writing at times fiendishly difficult—standing toe-to-toe with Ravel’s solo piano music—the score demands simplification, particularly for less experienced performers serving as accompanist or rehearsal pianist for these works. Many sections of the music are impractical or even impossible for a single pianist to perform, but this study offers alternate solutions and simplifications for pianists …

Unveiling Narrative In Liszt’S Dante Sonata Through Topical Analysis, Jasmine Olivia Harry

Theses and Dissertations

Narrative theory and its application in music have increasingly captured the interest of musicologists. Despite this growing attention, the analytical model remains relatively new compared to more established methods. Continued exploration and application are necessary to demonstrate its value alongside traditional theoretical frameworks. This dissertation employs narrative theory to examine the ironic comedy archetype in Franz Liszt’s Dante sonata, utilizing a bottom-up approach to construct a detailed musical narrative across three analytical tiers. Chapter two, representing the primary level, analyzes the sonata-fantasy macro-structure, uncovering key themes and the dynamic interplay between contrasting dichotomies. Chapter three, the secondary level, investigates semiotics, …

Contemporary Voices Of China: Biographical Introduction Of Four Contemporary Chinese Composers And Their Chinese Language Art Songs, Xintian Xu

Theses and Dissertations

This document primarily explores the rich developmental journey of Chinese modern art songs from the early 20th century to the present. It provides an overview of the lives, compositional activities, and contributions to Chinese art songs of four contemporary composers: Zheng Qiufeng, Wang Liping, Lu Zaiyi, and Zhao Jiping. To provide more specific resources, this study includes a table of selected works by the four composers, detailing the composer, song title, poet/lyricist, vocal range, and difficulty level. This section aims to serve as a practical reference for researchers, performing artists, and music educators interested in Chinese art songs.

Unveiling Hidden Voices: A Guide For Expanding Collegiate Coursework To Include Female Opera Composers And Their Works, Veronica Kimberly Page

Theses and Dissertations

Opera, often viewed as a prestigious and elite art form, has been predominantly shaped by male composers throughout its history. The contributions of women composers in opera have been largely overlooked, however, despite their significant impact on the genre. This dissertation explores the role of female composers in opera, from pioneers like Francesca Caccini to contemporary figures such as Missy Mazzoli, arguing for the creation of a curriculum focused on their works. Such a course would fill a critical gap in higher education, offering a more inclusive understanding of opera’s history and evolution. Through an examination of women’s compositions, historical …

Integrating Traditional Chinese Aesthetic Culture With Contemporary Music Through Violin, Fan Kai-Yi Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the integration of traditional Chinese aesthetic principles with contemporary music through selected violin repertoires. It examines the rich tradition of Chinese aesthetics, emphasizing the distinctive musical styles that, despite their variations, share a common cultural foundation. The research combines a comprehensive review of classical Chinese literature, musicological analysis, exploration of pitch materials, harmonic language, and performance-based interpretation to blend and expand the technical and expressive possibilities of the violin with the essence of Chinese music. Rooted in an analysis of key traditional Chinese aesthetic concepts—he (harmony), tianren heyi (the unity of nature and humanity)—and the two major …

A Conductor’S Rehearsal And Performance Guide To Christopher Tin’S The Drop That Contained The Sea, Augusto Gil

Theses and Dissertations

This document serves as a research resource regarding composer Christopher Tin and provides a conductor’s analysis for his large choral-orchestral work, The Drop That Contained the Sea. Christopher Tin is an American composer of film, television, and video game soundtracks. Though he is most likely best known for his choral-orchestral piece, “Baba Yetu”, written for the video game Civilization IV, Tin has written several choral-orchestral works that have premiered on international stages over the course of recent years, such as his large-scale song cycles Calling All Dawns, The Drop That Contained the Sea, To Shiver the Sky, and The Lost …

Examining Second-Grade Music Students’ Creativity And Agency During Game-Like Music Activities In Music Learning Centers, Hunter Knight Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop an understanding of my second-grade students’ creativity and agency in game-like music activities during peer-to-peer social interactions in music learning centers. Following were the guiding research questions for this study. During music learning centers: 1) How did students create game-like music activities, 2) What types of play did they demonstrate, 3) How did they describe their experiences, and 4) What music characteristics did they demonstrate? I collected data during three 50-minute second-grade music classes over the course of two weeks at St. Peter’s Catholic School (SPCS). I used the following data collection …

Exploring Modernist Traits In The Guitar Works Of Manuel María Ponce, Michael William Bunny

Theses and Dissertations

Music of the early twentieth century developed drastically from that of previous eras. With Debussy’s emphasis on tone color and timbre, Stravinsky’s rhythmic complexities, and Bartók’s incorporation of folk music, the twentieth century had a far different sound to that which preceded it. Each of these composers demonstrated different practices of this new genre called modernism. However, likely due to Andrés Segovia’s dislike of modernist music, there were not many popular composers that followed this trend in the guitar world. Those composing for the guitar shied away from attributes of modernism, ensuring that their works would be played. Manuel María …

A Performance And Pedagogical Guide To William Butler Yeats Songs By Ben Moore, James Allen

Theses and Dissertations

American composer, Ben Moore, has written music that has spanned genres including operas, children’s operas, art songs, cabaret songs, and musical theatre songs. His career spans multiple decades, but his music is not performed as often as it should in the Classical Music community. Moore’s music can be daunting at first glance, but many of his composition stylings are present in many of his works. Should one learn how to navigate one of his art songs, they will have a guide that should translate over to his other works. I have decided to focus on the seven art songs with …

Unaccompanied Double Bass Literature: History, Pedagogy, And Performance Practice, Joseph Lee Gaskins

Theses and Dissertations

While most solo recitals featuring the double bass employ the piano as accompaniment, this ensemble configuration presents several problems for the performer in terms of balance and sound production. These challenges can cause students who are still developing their technique and musicianship to form bad habits in an effort to meet the demands of playing with piano. Over time, double bassists have developed a multitude of strategies to solve the problem of projecting a soloistic sound that will project over the accompaniment. However, the question must be asked: Why not remove the accompaniment from the equation entirely? While the double …

Bridging Tradition And Interpretation: Overdotting In J.S. Bach's Keyboard Music And Recorded Practice, Jiamo Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract This dissertation presents a research and quantitative study about overdotting performance practice in Baroque music. Overdotting is a performance practice in the 17th and 18th century. It refers to playing dotted rhythms with exaggerated lengthening of the dotted note and shortening of the following note, beyond what is indicated in the notation. In this study, the dual evidence method is applied for cross-verifying recorded performances in the past century with published literature on performance practice of the interpretation of overdotted Baroque performance tradition in J.S. Bach’s solo keyboard work recorded since the early 20th century. The analysis focuses on …

Exploring The Minuet: A Study In Piano Instruction Including Stylistic Concerns, Technical And Musical Challenges, And Pedagogical Analyses, Zhenyu Gao

Theses and Dissertations

The minuet, originating in 17th-century France, evolved from a courtly dance emblematic of aristocratic refinement into a significant form of instrumental music. Over the centuries, it has maintained its prominence in musical pedagogy and performance. This study provides a comprehensive exploration of the minuet’s historical development, tracing its Baroque significance in dance suites and individual keyboard repertoire to its transformation into a distinct movement during the Classical era. Furthermore, it examines the reinterpretation of the minuet within the contexts of Romantic and neoclassical compositions, including its enduring legacy in pedagogical collections, individual movements, and as a stylized dance form. This …

Trios For Oboe, Bassoon, And Piano By Underrepresented Composers: An Annotated Bibliography And Performance Guide, Alexandra Castro

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to highlight repertoire for the trio of oboe, bassoon, and piano, focusing on works by historically underrepresented composers, specifically women and people of color (including Black, Latinx, Indian, Asian, and Native American composers), as well as my performance suggestions and comments for each piece. By creating an annotated bibliography and providing performance insights for each piece, the author seeks to increase the visibility and accessibility of these compositions. This research reflects a broader effort to diversify classical music, promoting works that mirror our society’s diverse cultural landscape. As a first of its kind, this …

The Impact Of Ballet Techniques On Singing Performers, Julie H. Welch

Theses and Dissertations

Singing performers are tasked to being a multifaceted artist using their acting and even dance skills in a performance. Voice teachers have long incorporated physical activity into training, but traditional ballet techniques—such as core tension and neck elongation—can contradict healthy singing practices. Given ballet’s deep historical connection to opera and stage performance, this study aims to examine whether integrating ballet into vocal training enhances or hinders a singer’s technique and overall performance. This investigation surveyed forty subjects who identified as teachers, singing performers, or students earning a performance degree and interviewing select subjects for further information; results will be discussed.

The Double Bar-Line: A Qualitative And Quantitative Study Of Career Readiness For Historically Black College And University Voice Performance Majors, Brian L. Fenderson

Theses and Dissertations

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play a crucial role in providing higher education opportunities for African American students, including those pursuing degrees in voice performance. In recent years, there has been a noticeable lack of performance opportunities and resources available to voice performance majors at HBCUs. This document aims to explore the challenges faced by HBCU voice performance majors who hoped to pursue a career in voice performance. Through a combination of literature review, qualitative interviews, and quantitative surveys, this study will examine the experience of voice performance majors from 1990 – present day. Interviews conducted will speak on …

Reclaiming The Body: Gender Politics And Embodied Meaning In Piano Performance And Pedagogy, Rachel Misheff

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact of the mind-body duality and its gendered metaphor on the lived experiences of historical and contemporary female pianists. Specifically, it explores how the principles of mind-body dualism have constructed gendered practices in piano performance and pedagogy that have both marginalized female pianists and engendered distinct embodied relationships to music. The study draws upon research from other disciplines, such as phenomenology, theories of embodiment, feminist theory, psychoanalysis, and Embodied Music Cognition, to examine how these gendered musical norms resulting from mind-body dualism functioned as forces of social inscription. This research, therefore, suggests that the body’s lived …

Approaches To Teaching Music Reading To Students With Dyslexia: A Guide For Piano Teachers, Olivia Grace Bradstreet Colomaio

Theses and Dissertations

Dyslexia is the most common learning disability in the United States, affecting approximately one in five individuals. According to the DSM-V-TR, the ICD-11, and the International Dyslexia Association, dyslexia is a Specific Learning Disorder that causes issues with phonological processing, sequencing of information and information processing, word recognition, reading fluency, and other issues. Due to its prevalence, the chances of piano teachers encountering a student with dyslexia in their teaching studios is highly likely. However, there is relatively little research available for piano teachers of students with dyslexia. In the music lesson, common areas of struggle for students with dyslexia …

Serious Music With Bea Witkin: An Upper West Side Audio Walk, Megan Hattie Stahl

Theses and Dissertations

Serious Music with Bea Witkin is a site-specific audio walk on New York City’s Upper West Side produced by Megan Hattie Stahl. This immersive, musical documentary explores and extends the life and work of composer Beatrice Witkin (1916-1990). Across four stationary chapters and three walking interludes, participants follow a one-mile route from Riverside Park to Straus Park by way of Witkin’s longtime residence on West End Avenue. Through guided narration, archival music, interviews and recordings of contemporary musicians sight-reading a 1985 string quartet piece by Witkin, Serious Music invites listeners to consider where music begins and ends.

Witkin, who graduated …

Activism Within The Music And Recorded Sound Archive, Julius Tanner

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the integration of applied ethnomusicology within the recorded sound archive of the New York Public Library. The process of repatriating recorded sound through community engagement lead to the development and eventual reparative work of outdated subject headings and other descriptive language within the archive. This thesis also explores how cultural preservation of similar non-physical fields such as naming conventions within linguistics and the development of gastronationalism combats globalization and ultimately colonization.

‘Keeping It Real’ Goes Wrong: Deconstruction Of Masculinity In The Work Of Jay-Z And Kendrick Lamar, Leo Mcmahon

Theses and Dissertations

Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar use their latest albums, 4:44 and Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, to address the wake of damage their behaviors have caused. On a personal level each artist apologizes to their wife for infidelities, but along the way they deconstruct performances of masculinity that have dominated popular hip-hop music since the late 1980's. Highlighting the pressure the music industry puts on hip-hop artists to perform a hyper-sexual, hyper-violent masculinity, I argue that the artists join the genre of African-American autobiography to reveal the inauthentic performances of 'realness' in hip-hop. Posturing as representatives of African-American men, …

Sleep’S Impact On Music Processing In The Developing Brain, Rigel Leonard Baron

Theses and Dissertations

Sleep plays a crucial role in human development, particularly in early childhood. While its influence on brain function is well documented, the relationship between sleep and auditory processing in the developing brain remains underexplored. The present study aimed to investigate how sleep duration impacts cortical responses to music, focusing on children aged 5 to 10. Using a six-feature passive listening oddball paradigm, analysis was conducted on event-related potentials (ERPs) across six music conditions: intensity, location, pitch, rhythm, slide, and timbre. Participants were divided into two groups based on average sleep duration (more or less than 10 hours per night). ERP …

Diversity Representation In Ilmea All-State Programming 1990-2025, Lucinda Boucher

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the diversity of ILMEA All-State programming from 1990–2025. This study compiled information regarding the composers and arrangers of the pieces selected, as well as the conductors for each ensemble. In the band category, 3.22% (n = 11) of all composers and arrangers (N = 342) were female and 4.39% (n= 15) were people of color. In orchestra, 1.67% (n = 3) were female and 6.67% (n = 12) were composers of color of all composers and arrangers (N = 180). The percentage of female composers …

The Satyr's Last Lament, Joseph A. Sandy

Theses and Dissertations

The Satyr’s Last Lament is a multi-movement work drawing from the traditions of early jazz and musical theater and consists of eight songs and five interludes. The plot is an original fantasy tale about an abandoned village of satyrs that is discovered by a wandering bard who uses magic to bring the spirits of the dead back to sing their story to him. They spin a sad tale about how The Stranger came to their town and convinced them to abandon their good habits and community to instead indulge in hedonism and isolation, leading to their downfall. Each song is …

Listening, Looking, And Learning: An Exploration Of Musical Influence On The Narratives And Characters Of Call The Midwife, Mary Claire Buchanan

Theses and Dissertations

Call the Midwife has distinguished itself among British period dramas through its commitment to telling women’s stories with emotional depth, historical and medical accuracy, and nuanced character development. Unlike many period dramas based in the United Kingdom that center on the aristocracy, Call the Midwife connects the audience with ordinary people, particularly women, navigating life post-World War II and the early days of government healthcare by portraying their struggles, triumphs, and evolving identities. One of the most compelling ways the series achieves this is through its use of music, particularly recurring motifs that signify personal growth and transformation. This thesis …

Teaching The Twenty-First Century: A Pedagogical Approach To Contemporary Violin Repertoire From Beginner To Advanced, Holly Workman

Theses and Dissertations

Violin pedagogy has largely ignored the last century of repertoire. Students finish their training with very few of the technical or musical skills required for the successful performance of contemporary music. This document discusses why newer repertoire should be added for all students and how teachers may introduce it to the traditional program of study without excessive disruption to the existing methods of teaching. Finding appropriate repertoire can be very difficult so this document includes a series of appropriate works which encompass beginner, intermediate, and advanced ability levels. Contemporary techniques must be taught in a guided manner and each chapter …

Liner Notes On Black Trans Girlhood: Afrofuturist Affect & Black Popular Music As A Praxis Of Self-Fashioning, Shawn J. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Liner Notes on Black Trans Girlhood: Afrofuturist Affect & Black Popular Music as a Praxis of Self-Fashioning interprets Black musical performance in identity-making, with a focus on how music and Black trans identity intersect and informs Black trans girlhood. As such, Black trans girls render ourselves legible, i.e. understood without shame or judgment, by constructing our identities through the music by Black women we listen and dance to, or watch and sing. These musical connections affirm the possibilities of Black femme expression. This expression of Black femininity is due to what I call an Afrofuturist affect, by which I refer …

Hyo-Shin Na's Chamber Works, 'From Korea To America- 120 Years And Beyond' And 'Song Of The Fog': A Stylistic Analysis And Performance Guide, Jiyeon Lee

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzes two chamber music works by Korean composer Hyo-shin Na, Song of the Fog and From Korea to America, focusing on how the fusion of Eastern and Western instruments contributes to musical expression and timbral characteristics. It includes an examination of the role of instrumental arrangement and reveals the composer's narrative and emotional intentions. The aim is to present an insight into Hyo-shin Na’s ensemble style.

Song of the Fog uses the Japanese koto with Western chamber instruments to depict the imagery of the accompanying poetry through changes in timbre, dynamic contrasts, and various performance techniques. Despite …

From Classical To Contemporary: Popular Music's Role In Shaping Opera And Vocal Training, Craig Allen

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation advocates for the integration of contemporary popular music into classical voice education, addressing the evolving landscape of the performing arts. As the boundary between classical and popular music fades, incorporating popular elements into traditional opera training equips performers for modern industry demands.

The first chapter offers a historical analysis, tracing opera’s origins from the late 16th century and showing how popular music influenced its development. Composers incorporated folk melodies and dance rhythms into early opera, setting a precedent for blending styles. Contemporary operas, such as Nkeiru Okoye’s Harriet Tubman and Nmon Ford’s House of Orfeus, continue this tradition, …

Inducing And Interpreting Physical Transformation In Electroacoustic Chamber Music Via Experimental Applications Of Modular Synthesizers, Joseph Samuel Lyons

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most rapidly evolving musical genres of the 21st century is interactive electroacoustic chamber music. This is primarily due to the ongoing developments in creative technology that have increased both the idiom's technical accessibility and its potential for artistic expression. In particular, modern modular synthesizers enable electroacoustic musicians to transform the physical characteristics of sound with an extremely fine level of control. This research project has three major goals. The first goal is to explore the relationship between the many disciplines involved in this genre of music through a review of the scholarship of Aleister Crowley, Edgard Varèse, …