Music Commons^™

Finding Meaning In Detachment: An Analysis Of Kevin Volans' Asanga, Jordan Taylor Walsh

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the undeniable importance of Kevin Volans' music, there has been little academic research done on his work. This is especially true of his pieces for percussion. This paper both dissects the form and structure Volans' piece for multiple percussion Asanga and explores the different interpretations by players from around the world that have contributed to the accepted performance practice for the piece. The ultimate goal of this project is to achieve a detailed understanding of how Asanga works and record this knowledge for the benefit of any future percussionists who add the piece to their repertoire.

The Guitar And Hausmusik In The Late 18th And Early 19th Centuries, Jeremy Polley

Theses and Dissertations

While being one of the most popular instruments in Western culture, the guitar has received relatively little scholarly attention. Music historians particularly overlook the guitar and its impact upon the development of music. Writings about the Hausmusik tradition that existed around the turn of the nineteenth century, however, suggest that the guitar was an important part of amateur music making. Analysis of publisher’s catalogs from the period also indicate the existence of a thriving guitar culture at the time. By performing a comparative analysis on works based on a theme by Giovanni Paisello from Fernando Sor and Mauro Giuliani, a …

The Prepared Flute: A Survey Of Its History, Techniques, And Repertoire, Stacey Lee Russell

Theses and Dissertations

Beginning with Varese’s Density 21.5 in 1936, composers have been experimenting with extended techniques to expand the flute’s range of sound. In an attempt to increase the timbral possibilities of the instrument, contemporary composers are writing for the prepared flute: adding objects on or inside the flute, or subtracting parts of the flute to alter its sound.

is the first written document to focus on the prepared flute. Deborah Fethers, in her major project discussing contemporary flute design in 2005, mentions the use of prepared flute by Michael Pestel, and states that “to my knowledge the only use of such …

Most Recommended Choral Music: A Survey Of High School State Choral Festival Repertoire Lists, James B. Watson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study is to determine the most frequently listed choral selections on state choral festival repertoire lists and to survey state repertoire directors regarding their opinions of the most important literature for high school choral students. Five questions guided this research: What are the most frequently listed works on state repertoire lists? Which styles do repertoire directors indicate as most important for a vocal music education? Is there any relationship between the compilation of literature and the state repertoire directors’ opinions regarding the importance of specific styles? What is the process for adding works to state …

The Influence Of Romantic Poetry On The Career And Music Of Nicolas Medtner, Denise Rudell

Theses and Dissertations

Nicolas Medtner was a composer born out of his time. He was a true Romantic in the Russian Silver Age and his creative ideology owes much to the Romantic poetry that he was devoted to all his life. This poetry put a decisive stamp on his music and influenced his career decisions. Medtner was exposed to the most renowned literature from an early age. Influenced by his father, and his oldest brother Emil, he developed a lifelong love for literature and especially poetry. Literary connections are apparent throughout Medtner’s music, including (and not limited to) references to Goethe, Pushkin, Lermontov, …

The Original Wind Band Music Of Ulysses Kay: A Conductor’S Guide, Tremon B. Kizer

Theses and Dissertations

Ulysses S. Kay (1917–1995) was one of the most prolific African American composers in the twentieth century, with over forty orchestral works, five operas, over forty choral compositions, and seven original works for wind band. Notable conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Frederick Fennell, Thor Johnson, Zubin Mehta, and Leopold Stokowski performed his works. Kay earned several prestigious awards for his compositions in genres outside of wind band, including two Prix de Rome selections, a Guggenheim fellowship, and six honorary doctorates. Even with his numerous accolades and a compositional output totaling more than 135 works, Kay has become one of the …

The Choral Music Of Keaton Lee Scott With A Conductor’S Analysis Of Requiem, Damion Womack

Theses and Dissertations

In addition to the analysis of Requiem by K. Lee Scott, this document provides biographical information and compositional style characteristics. The study was informed by frequent correspondences and multiple interviews with the composer. It is the author’s desire that this study will inspire and prepare other conductors to program this excellent composition, and encourage greater study of other accessible choral works by K. Lee Scott.

Paul Jacobs, Elliott Carter, And An Overview Of Selected Stylistic Aspects Of Night Fantasies, Alan Michael Rudell

Theses and Dissertations

This study concerns the life and career of Paul Jacobs, focusing in particular on the role Jacobs played in bringing about new American works for piano in the second half of the twentieth century. Jacobs was a key figure in the New York new music scene of the 1960s and 1970s and a personal friend to many composers who were active during this period. The study provides an overview of historical events which brought about the musical climate of late twentieth century America, a climate that was not entirely hospitable to native-born American composers. It examines Jacobs’ collaboration with Elliott …

The Music Of Nicola Ferro: A Description And Performance Guide To Tetralogy Of The Sun Suite And Annotated Guide To Published Works, Bradley James Keesler

Theses and Dissertations

The subject of this research document is the music of Italian trombonist and composer Nicola Ferro (b. 1974). The main purpose of this document is an attempt to initiate scholarly research of Ferro and his compositions. While much of his music has been performed and recorded by some of the world’s greatest musicians (most notably Joseph Alessi, New York Philharmonic Principal Trombonist), there is very little written research on the subject of Ferro or his music.

Part of this document will serve as a performance guide to one of his most important compositions, the Tetralogy of the Sun Suite for …

Archival Enactment, Retelling 'The Big Book': Alison Knowles, Something Else Press And Fluxus, Meghan A. Dellacrosse

Theses and Dissertations

"Archival Enactment, Retelling 'The Big Book': Alison Knowles, Something Else Press and Fluxus," positions Knowles’ Big Book (1966) as a case study of historical methodology and interdisciplinary artistic practice in the post-war period. This comprehensive analysis of Big Book, a work of art no longer extant, contextualizes its publisher, Something Else Press through Dick Higgins’ concept of “intermedia,” and important lesser-known junctures relevant to Fluxus and the group’s leader George Maciunas are illuminated. Knowles' early and lesser-known silkscreen paintings are also examined.

H. Villa-Lobos' Concerto Para Piano E Orquestra N. 4: A Stylistic Analysis, Vicente Della Tonia Junior

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide a stylistic analysis of Heitor Villa- Lobos’ Concerto No. 4 for piano and orchestra through investigation of its form, thematic materials, harmony, orchestration, stylistic influences and keyboard usage. The secondary purpose of this study was to offer the historical background, including the commission of the work, its première, reception and publication, which, along with the composer’s influences, will further illustrate his style and contribution to the genre. This study helps to fill a research gap by promoting and educating performers about Villa-Lobos’ writing. The ultimate goals are to encourage informed performances of …

An Annotated Bibliography Of Saxophone Works By Taiwanese Composers, Po-Fang Chang

Theses and Dissertations

Saxophone works by Taiwanese composers are, as yet, rarely researched nor introduced to the Western saxophone community. The purpose of this research paper is to create an annotated bibliography of works by prominent Taiwanese composers as a practical resource for pedagogues, researchers, and performers. Each work is introduced with background information, compositional ideas, performance length, a performance guide, and level of difficulty. In addition, a short biography and contact information for each composer is also included. It is the author’s goal to increase the exposure of these important contemporary works to the wider saxophone community, so that there will be …

The Wind Ensemble Trilogy Of Joseph Schwantner: An Examination Of The Close Musical Relationship Between "And The Mountains Rising Nowhere," "From A Dark Millennium," And "In Evening's Stillness..." With An Approach To Programming The Works As A Trilogy, James Willson Taylor Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Joseph Schwantner’s Trilogy for Wind Ensemble consisting of and the mountains rising nowhere (1977), From a Dark Millennium (1981), and In evening’s stillness… (1996) presents a unique problem. While it is clear that the composer’s intent is that the works be considered smaller parts of a whole, there are several complications to negotiate in order to both perform and appreciate the works as a trilogy. This document is a study of the characteristics that bind these pieces despite their seemingly disparate qualities, including such major components as programmatic inspiration, instrumental requirements, compositional traits, and pitch and rhythmic material. Additionally, it …

Frank Martin's Arranged Works For Flute: Sonata Da Chiesa And Deuxieme Ballade, Jessica Dixon Leeth

Theses and Dissertations

The Swiss composer Frank Martin (1890-1974) wrote three major works for flute—Ballade for flute and piano, Sonata da Chiesa for flute and organ, and Deuxième Ballade for flute and piano. Of these, both the Sonata da Chiesa and Deuxième Ballade were arrangements of two of his previously written works, Sonata da Chiesa for viola d’amore and organ and Ballade for saxophone and piano (or string orchestra, piano, and percussion), respectively. Martin wrote both works in their original versions in 1938, a time in his career when he realized his true individual style, embracing the chromaticism of twelve-tone serialism while maintaining …

H. Leslie Adams' Twenty-Six Etudes For Solo Piano: A Performance And Stylistic Analysis, Aaron Balthazar Mathews

Theses and Dissertations

H. Leslie Adams (b. 1932) is a prolific and well-respected American composer, performer, and educator. He currently works as a full-time composer and travels the country promoting his music. Past faculty appointments of H. Leslie Adams include serving as an Assistant Professor of Music at Stillman College, Florida A & M University, and the University of Kansas. Over the years, he has received numerous commissions, honors, and awards including the Composer Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts to study in Bellagio, Italy, the Yaddo Artists Colony fellowship, the Jennings Foundation, and grants from the Rockefeller Foundation and …

The Effects And Comparisons Of Receptive Live Music Listening And Expressive Music Making On Mood With Elderly Adults In A Congregate Residential Setting, Rory Kendall Bolton

Theses and Dissertations

It is important to consider mood and its effect on elderly persons as many older adults will experience symptoms of depression. In prior studies, research indicated that preferred music listening and expressive music making can positively change mood in older adults. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the differences between receptive music listening and expressive music making (presented as a facilitated group music therapy session) and their effect on participants’ mood. The researcher hypothesized that 1) there would be a significant difference for pre and posttest standardized mood assessment (PANAS) scores between the receptive music listening and …

An Historical Ethnography Of A Rural School Music Program: A Case Study, Robert C. Lacey

Theses and Dissertations

Every school music program has a history and a culture. This thesis was a study synthesizing those two elements, seeking to explore the past culture of a rural school music program primarily through interviews with former members of this culture. Throughout are examples of how music teachers, music students, administrators, and community members interacted over the course of approximately 30 years. From these interactions, the researcher drew insights about patterns of teacher behavior that could improve or hinder progress in a music program, including the quality of interpersonal relationships, the value of a teacher trying to integrate in a community …

Metamorphoses After Oboe: An Examination Of The Evolution Of Oboe Part Writing Through Music History, Patrick Quinn

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout Western music history, the oboe has served as one of the primary members of the orchestra. From its beginnings in the Baroque consort to the modern day orchestra, the instrument's story is one of unique ups and downs between being a staple and being a necessity. Though the instrument has weathered much through Western music history, it has endured and evolved into the instrument that is so familiar today. What is not as familiar, however, is the progression the oboe took to get to its modern iteration. The modern oboe represents years of development, both technologically and musically, on …

"Sing Me A Sad Song And Make Me Feel Better": Exploring Rewards Related To Liking Familiar Sad Music, John D. Hogue

Theses and Dissertations

Hogue (2013) tested some of Levinson's (1997) theoretical ideas about why people like listening to songs that make them sad. Particularly, Hogue tested Levinson's ideas of communion, mediation, savoring feeling, and how absorption interacted with the songs to affect communion and the emotion. Hogue, however, did not use musical stimuli that were familiar to the participants, which is a precursor to Levinson's (1997) theory. This thesis retested Levinson's theory comparing familiar songs against unfamiliar songs and songs from another participant.

Data were collected from 82 participants. Each participant provided songs that induced happiness and songs that induced sadness. Participants listened …

Percussion Education In Secondary Public Schools: A Pilot Study Comparing The Concert Band Vs. The Percussion Ensemble Approach, Jedediah Alan Blodgett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the benefit of offering a percussion ensemble class in secondary public schools. I looked at two elements of music education: playing time and relevant instruction. The research questions focused on the difference in playing time and relevant instruction between percussionists in the concert band and percussionists in the percussion ensemble, as well as differences between the concert band subgroups (brass, woodwind, percussion). 6 separate instrumental groups were observed: 4 concert bands and 2 percussion ensembles (N=6). Students were randomly selected from each instrument subgroup (brass, woodwind, percussion, percussion ensemble) for observation. …

Music Therapy As Treatment For The Psychological Distress Of Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence: Comparing Expressive And Receptive Music Interventions, Kristiana Miner

Theses and Dissertations

Domestic violence or intimate partner violence refers to physical, sexual, or emotional harm committed by a current or former intimate partner. Intimate partner violence has varied and serious repercussions in the lives of its victims. The direct consequences of violence combined with the physical aftermath of emotional distress, fear, and anxiety can lead to a variety of ailments. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and suicide are both major concerns for female victims of IPV. Considering that the issues faced by many victims of DV are pervasive and complex, treatment for survivors needs to be comprehensive and multifaceted. Music therapy is an evidence-based …

Breaking; Mending- A New Piece For Oboe And Chamber Orchestra, Jonathan Andrew Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Breaking, Mending- A New Piece for Oboe and Chamber Orchestra is an original composition for oboe and chamber orchestra that explores the role of narrative and historical reference and quotation in contemporary music. In Breaking, Mending, J.S. Bach’s Double Concerto for Oboe and Chamber Orchestra is quoted, manipulated and transformed into a new piece of music driven by a central, all-encompassing narrative. The piece was written for and performed by Dr. Susan Tomkiewicz and an orchestra consisting primarily of members of the CSU Honors College.

The Impact Of Singing-Integrated Reading Instruction On The Oral Reading Fluency And Motivation Of Elementary Students In An Out-Of-School Time Program, Yvette M. Moorehead-Carter

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of singing-integrated reading instruction on the oral reading fluency and motivation of elementary students in an after school program. Participants were third graders (n = 29) who attended the singing-integrated oral reading fluency (SI ORF) intervention twice a week for eight weeks. Components of the intervention included teacher-modeling of fluent oral reading, oral support, repeated reading and singing activities from a variety of children’s literature, and individual free-time.

The adapted Elementary Reading Attitude Survey (ERAS; McKenna & Kear, 1990) measured recreational, academic, and composite reading attitudes. The Qualitative Reading …

A Survey Of The Career Of Baritone, Josef Metternich: Artist And Teacher, Diana Carol Amos

Theses and Dissertations

Joseph Metternich, (1915- 2005) a prominent, internationally acclaimed opera singer of the mid-twentieth century, distinguished himself primarily in Italian baritone bel canto roles. In a career that spanned four decades, he performed in the major opera houses of the world, becoming one of the premiere operatic recording artists while portraying the heroes and villains of the operatic repertoire. At the height of his career, from 1946 to 1952, he was contractually bound to five opera houses at the same time, including theaters in Vienna, Austria as well as in East and West Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich in Germany.

From 1952 …

Teachers’ Observations Of 2-Year-Old Children’S Musical Vocalizations Elicited By Purposeful Silence Techniques, Kathryn Ward Reardon

Theses and Dissertations

With the intent of improving early childhood music development understanding, the purpose of this research was to examine young children’s music vocalizations. The guiding research question was: When a music teacher implemented purposeful silences while performing a song and a rhythm chant, what techniques encouraged vocalizations made by 2-year-old children as observed by music teachers and classroom teachers? I implemented a qualitative design utilizing participant observation techniques to investigate the research purpose and question of this study. Four teachers served as a panel of experts to provide observational data. I video recorded myself teaching music activities from Music Play (Valerio, …

The Social And Cultural Changes That Affected The Music Of Motown Records From 1959-1972, Lindsey Baker

Theses and Dissertations

Motown Records produced many of the greatest musicians from the 1960s and the 1970s. During this time, songs like "Dancing in the Street" and "What's Going On?" targeted social issues in America and created a voice for African-American people through their messages. Events like the Mississippi Freedom Summer and Bloody Thursday inspired the artists at Motown to create these songs. Influenced by the cultural and social circumstances of the Civil Rights Movement, the musical output of Motown Records between 1959 and 1972 evolved from a sole focus on entertainment in popular culture to a focus on motivating social change through …

Olivier Messiaen’S Couleurs De La Cité Céleste: A Conductor’S Guide, Michael Thomas King

Theses and Dissertations

Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992) was one of the leading composers of the twentieth century. He was renowned for developing his own personal style of composition of which he outlined in his Technique de mon Language Musical. This style includes the use of color chords, birdsong, plainchant, and Hindu and Greek rhythms. His compositions were written for, and championed by conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Kent Nagano, Seiji Ozawa, and of course his primary artistic partner, pianist Yvonne Loriod.

Over the course of his compositional career, Messiaen wrote five works for winds and percussion. The first three works Oiseaux exotiques, Couleurs de …

Expanding The American Canon: A Conductor's Compendium Of Black American Orchestral Composers, Nseobong Ekpo

Theses and Dissertations

From the colonial days in the early 1600s until the present, Black Americans have contributed to the musical life of America. Black Americans and composers of African descent have contributed to symphonic music since the early days of Western Art Music. However, Black Americans have not been adequately represented in symphonic concert programs past or present. This document aims to address the issue of accessible published works by Black Americans by presenting a current resource of available and ready-tobe- performed symphonic orchestral music by Black American composers. This document will include: A brief historical overview of contributions of Black Americans …

Carl Friedrich Zelter’S Kantate Auf Den Tod Friedrichs: An Historical Overview, Conductor’S Guide, And Modern Edition, Dustin C. Ousley

Theses and Dissertations

This study of Carl Friedrich Zelter’s Kantate auf den Tod Friedrichs marks the first scholarly and musical exploration of the piece since the eighteenth century. A handcopied score of the cantata was converted into modern notation in 2009 using the program Sibelius. This version of the score, as well as instrumental parts, was used for the lecture-recital that grew from the study of this work. The manuscript’s present-day owner, Renate de La Trobe of Hamburg, Germany, granted access to a fair copy of the original score with a dedication in Zelter’s own hand. A member of Mrs. de La Trobe’s …

Two Pieces For Bassoon By Dan Welcher: A Guide To Performance And Analysis, Including A Survey Of Welcher’S Chamber Music With Bassoon, Reed Aaron Hanna

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a performance guide that traces the compositional style of Dan Welcher, a well-known composer and former principal bassoonist of the Louisville Symphony and professor of bassoon at the University of Texas, through an examination of two works in which the bassoon is a prominent solo instrument: Concerto da Camera (1975) and The Wind Won’t Listen (2002). These works, a concerto and a chamber piece, span a period of almost 30 years in Welcher’s career. The study also includes a survey of other chamber music by Welcher involving the bassoon. It relates the two focal pieces to the …