Music Commons^™

Dreamscape No. 2, "Songs For The Woman In The Sun Hat"., Derek D Carter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

this dreamscape is a collection of love songs, reworked and reimagined into the dreamy, hazy nature of both dreams and love. each song comes from the jazz canon and takes a specific idea or motif and builds and destroys as it moves along. each song is paired with an interlude, aimed to explore some of the darker memories or regrets we may have felt for loved ones, for love is not without its complications.

Brazilian Rhythms On The Drum Set: Stylizations Of Baiao, Frevo And Maracatu By Drummers Airto Moreira, Nene And Marcio Bahia., Lucas Gomes Maia Tome Pimentel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research is to gather and analyze stylizations of Brazilian folk rhythms baião, frevo and maracatu in contemporary Brazilian jazz. For this end, I examined transcriptions from well-known contemporary drummers Airto Moreira, Nenê and Márcio Bahia. Firstly, I reviewed the path of the drum set in Brazil by examining the important contributions made by drummers Luciano Perrone and Edison Machado. After that, I presented musical characteristics of baião, maracatu and frevo in their original environment, followed by analysis of each rhythm’s stylizations to the drum set made by drummers Airto Moreira, Nenê and Márcio Bahia. I concluded …

Mabalêl., Johannes Visser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The symphonic song, Mabalel, as presented here, is an extract from a larger composition that also forms part of a greater trilogy of songs on South African texts. Throughout the three texts in the trilogy, themes of nature, pre-civilization society, and African tragedies create unification between the works. In Mabalel, a young native South African girl is sent to get water for her village from the river, when she is unexpectedly attacked by Lalele, a crocodile. The beauty of this text not only lies in its metaphorical representation of the (most often unjust) difficulties and tragedies faced daily by rural, …

Liminal Aesthetics : Perspectives On Harmony And Timbre In The Music Of Olivier Messiaen, Tristan Murail, And Kaija Saariaho., Jackson Harmeyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Harmony and timbre have traditionally been viewed as separate parameters by music scholars and treated as such by composers. Once timbre had been understood scientifically, however, as arising from a fundamental frequency and its overtones sounding at different amplitudes, it became desirable to replicate this structure in music. The composers associated with spectral music, a movement which first emerged in Paris in the 1970s, have enthusiastically explored this closer relationship between harmony and timbre, blurring the distinctions that once existed between these concepts. This thesis examines this new liminal relationship between harmony and timbre, asking how their closer unity has …

Secondary School Band: Student Retention And Director Issues-Challenges And Strategies, Frank James Poolos

Masters Theses

Student involvement in school band programs can be a positive learning experience. By featuring both physical activity and multi-level brain function, successful band programs support positive student results in both academic and social development. Graduation rates in band students are often higher than that of the overall student population. By recognizing this, increased graduation rates could be supported by increasing and retaining band student enrollment. This study examined and identifies the characteristics of band programs that contribute to increased effectiveness through the utilization of one director for both middle and high school. Additionally, the musical qualities band students having the …

Schumann's Dichterliebe: A Revelation Of A Great Composer's Life And Passion, Justin Robinson

Masters Theses

From a young age, German composer Robert Schumann’s passions for music, drama, and literature were evident. Through personal tragedies and an uncertain career path, these talents guided Schumann into a successful career in composition. Childhood interests in literature and the influence of German author Jean Paul Richter had a profound effect on Schumann’s compositional style. His view that music was the most effective aesthetic vehicle for expression was combined with Jean Paul’s definition of Romanticism to create a philosophy of music Schumann would come to live by. In the face of poverty, commercial failure, and artistic frustration with piano composition, …

The Journey Of A Hero: Musical Evocations Of The Hero’S Experience In The Legend Of Zelda, Jillian Wyatt

Music Theses - Archive

The research in this study explores concepts in the music from select games in The Legend of Zelda franchise. The paper utilizes topic theory and Schenkerian analysis to form connections between concepts such as adventure in the overworld, the fight or flight response in an enemy encounter, lament at the loss of a companion, and heroism by overcoming evil. The article identifies and discusses how Koji Kondo’s compositions evoke these concepts, and briefly questions the reasoning. The musical excerpts consist of (but are not limited to): The Great Sea (Windwaker; adventure), Ganondorf Battle (Ocarina of Time; fight or flight), Midna’s …

“Shame! Fury! Grief!”: Mozart’S “Hysterical” Arias, Renae Perry

Music Theses - Archive

Many music scholars have used the term “hysterical” to describe opera characters and arias. However, there are significant inconsistencies among the ways in which researchers deploy the term. In this thesis, the term “hysterical” refers to a female character’s untempered expression of negative emotions caused by some aspect of the patriarchal society in which she lived. The definition of “hysterical” used here is framed by both colloquial uses and feminist perspectives. Although scholars often label three of the four arias in this analysis as “rage arias,” this thesis applies the label “hysterical” because it effectively communicates the complexity of the …

Amat's "Guitarra Española" And Its Influence On Music Theory, Ruben Melendez

Music Theses - Archive

The guitar was one of the most popular instruments of the 17th century and played a large role in the way that theorists and musicians thought about music during the 16th and 17th centuries. A new style of guitar playing for the Spanish five-course guitar, called rasgueado, had just burst on to the music scene and was changing the way people thought about music. The spark that ignited the popularity of this new style originated from the first treatise on rasgueado music, written by physician and amateur guitarist Juan Carlos Amat. In his treatise “Guitarra Española,” Amat introduces new theoretical, …

An Analysis Of Musicals By Lynn Ahrens And Stephen Flaherty, And An Original Musical, Fly Like An Eagle, Donna Howard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty have written musicals together for several decades. This thesis contains an in-depth discussion and stylistic analysis of several songs each from Once on This Island, Ragtime, and Seussical – three Ahrens & Flaherty shows chosen specifically because of their variety in style and subject matter. This analysis includes, among other things, the lyrics and lyric setting, textures, harmonic settings, accompaniment styles, rhythms, and harmonic progressions. The central portion of this document contains the music for nine songs of an original musical titled Fly Like an Eagle. This script is written by Daris Howard and is …

Pedagogy Of Video-Game Scoring For Collegiate Application And An Original Score For The Nintendo Switch Title, Renaine, Mason Lieberman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Video-game scoring as an academic subject is quite new. There are limited opportunities for college-level students to study this field, and even fewer that are offered remotely via online sources. My goal for this thesis was to craft educational modules, courses, or other academically-based resources, that would develop a student’s musical skills, professional instincts, and educational groundings in the game audio world. These courses could then serve as an academic model for the development of other classes. After conducting research informed by my professional background as a composer in the video game industry (with a particular focus on my experiences …

From Choir To Band: Analysis And Application Of Adaptation Techniques As Demonstrated In Works By Whitacre, Ticheli, And Johnson, Deshmond D. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the adaptation techniques of composers Frank Ticheli and Eric Whitacre. As a means for that exploration, it includes an original choral work by the author as well as a band transcription that was done using adaptation techniques found in the Ticheli and Whitacre pieces. The application of those techniques sheds new light on the subject of band transcriptions by showing a variety of possible approaches. Musicians, conductors, and composers will be able to use these materials to enhance the composition and performance of a choral work and its band transcription.

The Effects Of Participation In A Grief Choir On Perceived Grief, Coping, Energy, Social Support, And Health Among Bereaved Adults: A Mixed Methods Randomized Control Study, Lauren Dimaio

Crossroads of Music and Wellness

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of participation in a grief choir vs. verbal grief group on bereaved persons’ perceived grief, coping, energy, social support and health and to examine the experiences of those participating in both groups. In this mixed-methods study, the results from qualitative phenomenological focus groups were used to explain and interpret the findings of the Randomized Control Trial (RCT). Findings demonstrated that the grief choir may have been as effective as the verbal grief group when impacting the participants’ experience of grief.

The Influence Of Film Music On Emotion, Alyssa D'Artenay

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This paper examines the use of music as a narrative device to influence an audience’s emotions and response in the context of film and visual media as well as its use as a tool to impart psychological transportation and assist the visual narrative. By identifying the contributions of music as a whole, I evaluate and describe its functions, roles and relationship with the audience through the medium of film. Using information collected from published reports, articles and books, I provide a thorough analysis of the varying methods and approaches used and the roles music plays in affecting the emotional response …

Uni Oboe Studio Recital, May 1, 2019 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Music Recital Programs

Program of a music recital given by faculty, students, or guest artists from the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.

Blackface At The Met: An Exploration Of The Casting Of Performers Of Color In The Roles Of Aida And Othello From 2007-2017, Kaeli Groenert

Music

In the early to mid-nineteenth century, blackface minstrelsy was a common practice seen throughout the United States, as white performers would paint themselves with cork paint and create a caricature of black society at the time. The art form lost popularity with the dawning of the American Civil Rights movement in the mid-twentieth century, but aspects of this have continued in our more modern performing art forms, with people of color not being cast in roles that are written for them. In 1955, Marian Anderson became the first African-American performer to play a lead role at the Metropolitan Opera, breaking …

Undone By Adaptation? : Tracing Desdemona And Emilia In Othello And Otello(S), Emily Buckley-Crist

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This thesis explores the characters of Desdemona and Emilia in Shakespeare’s Othello and productions of Giuseppe Verdi and Arrigo Boito’s operatic adaptation, Otello (1887). Shakespeare structures the play’s meditation on the limitations of feminine agency in early modern England with Desdemona and Emilia’s detached acts of defiance. When both women succumb to the parasitism of their marriages, Shakespeare illuminates the unjust danger defiant women face under the unyielding power of early modern patriarchy. Surprisingly, Verdi and Boito diminish the agency of these female characters in their opera, instead favoring male characters while adapting Shakespeare’s play to the form and audience …

Reclaiming The Musical Burlesque: A Reconstruction Of The 1855 Musical Score To John Brougham’S Po-Ca-Hon-Tas: Or, The Gentle Savage, Christopher Drobny

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Most historians begin their musical theatre chronologies with the 1866 premiere of The Black Crook. However, a few respected scholars cite Po-Ca-Hon-Tas: or, The Gentle Savage, John Brougham’s 1855 musical burlesque, as an important development in the art form’s earlier evolution. The neglect of Brougham’s work is often justified for two reasons. First, his practice of creating lyrics to pre-existing melodies reduces his work to second-tier status. Second, because none of Brougham’s musical scores are extant, it is impossible to recreate a performance of his work and access its qualities. I offer two responses. First, as our contemporary musical …

Dance Of Exile: The Sakharoffs’ Visual Performances In Montevideo (1935–1948), Pablo Munoz Ponzo

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis explores the life-work chronology of the dancers and choreographers Clotilde von Derp (whose surname then was Sakharoff) and Alexander Sakharoff, who were exiled in Montevideo, Uruguay, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, between 1941 and 1948. During their stay in the Rio de la Plata region, the Sakharoffs stirred up the art scene by performing extremely detailed dances with great attention to costume design. This thesis begins with a review of the reception of the dancers’ performances by the artistic and cultural circles in Montevideo, arguing that the Sakharoffs’ “queer” trajectory resonated with the Uruguayan artistic community, influencing the creation …

Music Reviews, Volume 75, No. 5, Kathleen Roland-Silverstein

Voice - All Scholarship

Contains reviews of Tre Lir- iche Infantili, per canto e piano- forte; Quattro favole romanesche di Tri- lussa (Four Fables from Rome by Trilussa), per canto e pianoforte, op. 38. ; L’arte vocalizzo, parte III; Midnight Sun: Collected Songs from Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, volumes 2 and 3.

Strange Vibrations: The Evolution Of The Theremin, Kasey Mathew

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This project will examine the unusual and versatile instrument known as the theremin. It will look at the history and development of the instrument as well as the story of its Russian inventor, Leon Theremin, and notable performer Clara Rockmore. The physics behind the instrument will be briefly examined. Several prominent uses of the theremin in popular culture/media will be studied including its use in science fiction movies of the 1950s. Also examined will be the electro-theremin, a simplified version of the instrument which is used as a distinguishing feature of the 1966 music of the Beach Boys in "Good …

Stressful Music: A Look Into The Challenges Of Life As A Career Musician, Andrew Derek Heinzman

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This paper will discuss various aspects of life as a career musician and the challenges faced while working in this field. It will refer to different levels of fame and how certain challenges are present within those levels. Oftentimes the general public is not aware of the degree to which musicians face stress from their line of work. Conflict with bandmates, record labels, and sometimes the public often compound other issues musicians are already dealing with. The pressures of touring and low income can be emotionally draining for many. On top of all that, there is a culture of partying …

1999 Aaa Jrpg Quality And How A 2019 Indie-Game Developer Can Meet It, Kailynn Haskell-Harbert

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This paper is a delve into 1999 JRPG AAA video games and how small developers can make something of similar quality with contemporary technology. This is explored by using Final Fantasy VIII and Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete as a 1999 AAA standard, then comparing that standard to modern indie-games as well as my own experience in indie-game development. The ultimate goal of the paper is to prove that small indie-game studios can create 1999 AAA quality JRPGs with relatively minimal investment.

Moving To The Beat: The Role Of Movement On The Perception Of Musical Expressivity, Molly Evans

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect body movement would have on listeners’ (N = 7) perceptions of the musical expressivity of different conducting patterns. An audio/video recording of a conductor from the University of Southern Mississippi was used for the stimulus, and listeners were asked to rate each video recording on perceived expressiveness, congruency between movement and music, and participant’s willingness to play under each conducting style. While the video portion of the stimulus changed to reflect two different conducting styles (beat centric – traditional movements that adhere to notated meter, non-beat centric – non-traditional movements …

They Never Stopped Rockin': A Brief History Of The Chitlin' Circuit, Mississippi, And Their Effects On America's Music, Warren Beebe

Honors Theses

This work focuses on the development of one of America's first musical tour routes: the Chitlin' Circuit. While its name may sound strange, the Chitlin' Circuit was responsible for the development of numerous distinct musical genres throughout the United States, such as blues and rock and roll in the twentieth century. Southern roadhouses, dive bars, and juke joints proudly showcased performers that gained initial fame touring with old medicine shows. As these artists gained recognition for their new musical stylings and elaborate showmanship, the owners of these local nightspots began to exchange contact information to better capitalize on these highly …

Effect Of Consistent Singing On Maintenance Of Speech Intelligibility Following Lsvt®: A Retrospective Longitudinal Case Study, Rachel Ricca Beck

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Parkinson’s Disease is a common neurodegenerative disease affecting one’s ability to hone and refine volitional movement. Many with Parkinson’s report significant effects on voice and communication. Speech-language pathologists have long targeted the achievement of increased vocal volume through intensive voice therapy, with the most common program being Lee Silverman Voice Treatment® (LSVT®) (Ramig et al., 1994). While LSVT® is the most prominent type of voice therapy for individuals with Parkinson’s, other researchers have begun investigating therapeutic singing because of the similar functions it employs (e.g., increased breath support, utilization of entire vocal range).

The current project is a retrospective, longitudinal …

Abandoning Abuse: Acknowledging Adoption In The 21 Century, Deborah Elizabeth Ellis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The inspiration for this set of pieces arose from a friendship with fellow grad student Morgen Cavanah. Morgen and I were both adopted as children, and it this common background that gave rise to these pieces. The poems chosen were written by Morgen about individuals or events in her life. Though I had planned to set 9 of the original 12 poems, this set is comprised of my four favorites. Each piece uses repetitive piano motives that underlie the melodic lines of the voice, flute, and cello. This choice explores harmonic and melodic possibilities that expand minimal accompaniment. Much of …

Amalgam., Tim Clay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

According to the Internet, the word “amalgam” can mean one of two things. It can refer to either “an alloy of mercury with another metal, especially one used for dental fillings” or “a mixture or blend.” While using a musical work as dental filling is an interesting idea, this work falls under the latter definition. This amalgam consists of elements evoking rock, metal, hiphop, pop, Mozart, and a little bit of Bach. Other influences may have leaked into the piece, but this listing contains the items that were at the front of my mind during the composition process. During my …

Examining The Fears, Benefits, And Applications Of Teaching Improvisation In General Music, Krystle Boyd

Theses

This project focused on identifying and resolving fears associated with teaching improvisation in the general music classroom. The primary focus was on music educators and providing them with reassurance, reasoning, and plans on how to begin the process of teaching improvisation and follow through so that it is a well-developed initiative that will be built upon and utilized for years to come. This project demonstrated plans for an entire year of 5th grade general music instruction and provided a curriculum map, lesson plans, rubrics, and a manual of explanation for the lessons and activities.

The Development Of A Standards Based Grading Assessment Plan In The Sixth Grade Choral Classroom, Olivia Mae Howard

Theses

This project focuses on the best assessment methods for standards-based grading in the sixth grade choral classroom. In the middle school choral world, resources are limited in the area of standards-based grading in the sixth grade choral classroom. This project was created to study and focus on how the new national standards connect with assessments methods utilized by choral music educators for sixth grade and then to connect these methods to standards-based grading. The aim of the project was to create the best assessment methods to be utilized with the new national music standards in the sixth grade choral music …