Music Commons^™

Musical Portraiture In Acht Korte Karakterschetsen Voor Piano Vierhandig By Hans Osieck, Yuri Kim

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Hans Osieck (1910-2000) was a Dutch composer, pianist, and teacher. His musical portraits, Acht Korte Karakterschetsen voor piano vierhandig (Eight Short Character Sketches for Four Hands), are a valuable addition to the piano duo repertoires for intermediate and advanced students. In Eight Sketches, Osieck musically portrays eight of his students using simple compositional techniques, much like the brushstrokes and color palette of an artistic portrait. As a result of their programmatic nature and relatable subjects, Osieck’s Eight Sketches can be particularly useful for students developing their imaginations and learning to perform expressively. As a piano duo, Eight Sketches also serves …

From A Humble Cry To A Holy Chaconne: The Background, Analysis, And Performance Guide To Chaconne For Tokkae, Op. 96 By M. W. Johann Kim, Jurang Kim

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The cries of animals have been used as motivic material in classical music literature throughout history. This project considers the Cambodian tocay gecko’s cry as the motif which embodies the harmonic structure in Chaconne for Tokkae for Violin and Piano, Op. 96 by Dr. Myung Whan Johann Kim. It reveals how Dr. Kim adapts unique compositional style and technique such as the bell harmony of Dr. Kurt Anton Hueber, to develop the theme into 39 colorful variations. The essential elements of the chaconne and the composer’s intentions are examined through personal interviews and correspondence with the composer. These elements are …

Julie Giroux’S Symphony No. 6: The Blue Marble Background, Analysis, And Conductor’S Guide, Josh Gillen

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Julie Giroux’s Symphony No. 6: The Blue Marble (2022) is an original work for wind band that is quickly rising in popularity among instrumental conductors and ensembles throughout the world. The purposes of this document are to

1) provide biographical details regarding Julie Giroux and her musical career;

2) provide a background of the work’s conception from a musical and multi-media perspective through interviews with Giroux and the first conductors of the work;

3) provide a multi-parametric structural analysis of the work and its companion film;

4) provide conductors with useful information for programming and rehearsing the work.

Chapter one …

The Yi Cycle: Finding The ‘Existing’ And ‘Potential’ In Tan Dun’S Intercourse Of Fire And Water For Cello Solo, Kevin He

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The Chinese American composer Tan Dun was born in 1957 in the Hunan province of China. His early life reflected the difficulties of being a student during the Cultural Revolution. Tan Dun’s Intercourse of Fire and Water for Cello Solo reflects the composer’s journey from China to the USA in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. The piece is the first solo concerto originating from Dun’s Yi0: Concerto for Orchestra, which was written in 2002 and is based on the ancient Chinese book I Ching (Book of Changes). The Yi Cycle includes four works: Yi0: Concerto for …

A Conductor’S Analysis Of Selected A Cappella Works By Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, William Bernard Chandler Iii

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Despite experiencing a great deal of recognition in his lifetime, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s music is seldom performed today. His more famous pieces were his choral cantatas, but they require resources that most choirs cannot access. To encourage performance of his music, this monograph focuses on four of his part songs, which are much more accessible.

While many choirs will have the voicings to perform these pieces, they are very chromatic. Coleridge-Taylor is a product of late Romanticism and he employs many chromatic techniques to embellish his music. Inexperienced choirs will struggle to maintain a sense of tonal center if they are …

Hildegard Fantasy, Julianna Charnigo

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), a German abbess, composer, mystic, and theologian, was revered as a prophet during her lifetime. Since then, her numerous accomplishments and visionary writings have made her popular both in her native Germany and across the world. Hildegard produced numerous Latin writings, more than any other woman of the Middle Ages, and her more than seventy musical compositions fascinate musicians and listeners to this day. My doctoral thesis is a composition for SATB chorus, orchestra, and soprano solo entitled Hildegard Fantasy, based on the life and music of Hildegard of Bingen.

I have written both the …

A Pianist Looks At Gerald Finzi's A Young Man's Exhortation, Op. 14, Mary Ann Wilder

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Gerald Finzi is a twentieth-century British composer. Though he also composed for orchestra and chamber ensembles, he is primarily known as a composer of vocal works, both solo and choral. In this solo vocal works, he favored the poetry of Thomas Hardy; six of his nine song cycles set Hardy’s poetry. One of these, A Young Man’s Exhortation, was Finzi’s second song cycle for voice and piano, but the first to earn notable success. Finzi writes for the piano lyrically and independently, as though the piano were a duetting voice—or in many cases, voices. This paper focuses on a …

The Exploration Of Clinical Wisdom Of Music Therapists Working With Adults With Severe And Profound Intellectual Disability: A Multiple Case Study, Courtney Catron

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Research on the severe and profound intellectually disabled adult population is sparse due to several factors including difficulty in acquiring consent for research, lack of funding, and difficulty in interpreting behavioral responses. Music therapists providing services to this population are faced with sparse resources to guide evidence-based practice with severe and profound intellectually disabled (ID) adults. It is vital to document how seasoned professionals work with this population effectively to improve the evidence base for music therapists. This project used a multiple case study approach. Four music therapists provided an in-depth exploration of their clinical wisdom from years of working …

Relojerías Sensibles By Juan Trigos – A Performance Guide, Geraldo Leite Da Costa Neto

Theses and Dissertations--Music

This dissertation provides insights into the compositional style of the Mexican composer Juan Trigos (b. 1965) and his brand-new work for solo guitar: Relojerías Sensibles (2022). Included in this document is a brief biography of the composer, commentaries about other of his works, as well as a description of his musical concept: Abstract Folklore. The main purpose of this research is to introduce the reader to Trigos’ artistic universe as well as provide a performance guide that may facilitate the understanding and learning process of his new solo piece. In addition, the first two appendices are dedicated to a catalog …

Gesture And The Auditory Impact On The Perception Of Sound: A Performance Guide For Understanding Gestural Function On Percussion Pedagogy And Performance, Emily Lane Durocher

Theses and Dissertations--Music

I will address the concept of physical gestures and discuss how they are applicable to the way percussionists visually and audibly perceive music. Through my research, I will focus on performance and pedagogy, seeking new possibilities for introducing percussionists at all ability levels to different articulations. Percussionists have traditionally been led to believe that they do not have the versatility over the initial musical attack and sustain that wind and string players do. This document has been developed to provide a more in-depth approach to how physical and musical gestures can function to create a more versatile and musical percussionist. …

A Brief Teacher Training On Using Music To Support Social Emotional Learning In Preschool: Training Materials Development, Alaina K. Sheridan

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Music in early childhood can provide valuable support for developing social emotional learning in preschool children. Preschool teachers often lack training in how to incorporate music-based activities to support social emotional learning in the classroom. This thesis involves three steps. First, I developed the materials for one-day training that presents music-based experiences for social emotional learning in preschool. The training materials are centered around two learning objectives: 1) Identify at least 1 music-based experience that can support each of the five SEL competencies for children, and 2) increase knowledge of music-based experiences to support SEL in the preschool classroom. Second, …

“Songs Of The Underground” – Crafting A Unique Gaming Experience Through Music, Megan Franklin

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The academic study of video game music, known as Ludomusicology, is a younger research area in the world of musicology, with the earliest works having been published in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Despite its young age, Ludomusicology is becoming a staple in the academic world, with scholars such as Melanie Fritsch, Andra Ivănescu, Michiel Kamp, Tim Summers, and Mark Sweeney dedicating their time to the subject. This thesis uses musical analysis as the basis of exploring the relationship between music and aspects of video game creation and player interaction. The case study for this project is the 2015 …

David Gillingham’S Stained Glass For Wind Ensemble: A Transcription From The Standard Percussion Repertoire, Ashley Shoupe

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Stained Glass (1994), by David Gillingham, is a work that is considered one of the standard pieces of percussion repertoire. To date, there are no known arrangements or transcriptions which exist for wind band that originated from the percussion ensemble repertoire. Stained Glass is a work which utilizes many musical characteristics and compositional techniques that could translate successfully to the wind ensemble, such as sweeping ostinato, sustained chordal structures, and a variety of colors and textures. It is because of this observation of musical characteristics that makes this work a good candidate for a successful first transcription from percussion ensemble …

The Three E’S Of Horn Repertoire: From Excerpts To Etudes To Employment, Briana Pepilascov-Childers

Theses and Dissertations--Music

This project explores effective solutions for practicing orchestral excerpts, a challenge often faced by young musicians preparing for auditions. It introduces a method of adapting practice ideas and composition to facilitate a more profound understanding of fifteen orchestral excerpts. While primarily directed at horn players, the concepts and techniques explored in this study are applicable to musicians of all instruments, offering specific ideas, practice tips, and original etudes tailored to each excerpt. These etudes serve a dual purpose by addressing technical aspects of both the horn and the excerpt itself while familiarizing the musician with the standard orchestral repertoire commonly …

Music For Visual Media Of The 21st Century What Role Does Music Have In Visual Media, Sigrid Heugen

Doctoral

This research consists of a composition portfolio which examines new perspectives on musical experiences in virtual environments, through the exploration and development of immersive adaptive music for a visual medium. The research addresses the usage, adaptation, and creation of music in visual media such as Virtual Reality (VR) and other Extended Realities (XR).

So It Goes: Hauntology, Lost Futures, And Mac Miller, Ryan Hiemenz

Capstone Showcase

Hauntology is a relatively new concept born out of the current state of late capitalism, wherein it has become increasingly common for new releases of popular culture, art, and media to appease the societal desire to return to the past. First coined by Jacques Derrida in his book Specters of Marx, the term “Hauntology” was used to describe the phenomenon of the “death” of communism and how the capitalist powers that “killed” it essentially made the idea of communism immortal. They made it a specter, and ghosts cannot die. This concept was then altered by the late Mark Fisher, …

The Narrative Composer: Hector Berlioz’S Impact On The Evolution Of Film Scoring In The Twenty-First Century, Enrique Alberti

Honors Program Theses

Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, whose literary and musical works have an undeniable effect on the history of Western music. Specifically, Berlioz’s most famous orchestral work, the Symphonie Fantastique, transformed how music could be utilized in an orchestral setting because it was the first programmatic symphony, which is a symphony with music set to a written narrative. The Symphonie would inspire German composer Richard Wagner to create what is now recognized as the leitmotif, a musical phrase used to identify an idea. In modern Hollywood film music, Wagner is credited with establishing the techniques that have become staples …

Culturally Responsive Teaching And Music Education, Katie Johnson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The United States’ music culture is predominantly focused on the Western music tradition. Yet, the population in the United States is wildly diverse and continues to become even more so at a rapid rate. Because of this, culturally relevant teaching has become an increasingly discussed topic in music education. Why do some music educators feel out of place with music outside of the classical tradition? It can be traced backed to the Eurocentrism of music schools in the United States. Music schools focus primarily on the classical Western music realm, including topics such as music theory, socially accepted ensembles and …

Secondary Traumatic Stress And Women Music Educators: A Phenomenological Study, Abigail Van Klompenberg

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is a phenomenon that affects individuals in helping professions, including educators. STS is a trauma disorder and results from one’s exposure to others experiencing trauma or who have experienced trauma. STS can affect physical health, well-being, and professional performance. Due to the profound effects of STS, there is a need for continued research to clarify this phenomenon in educators, specifically music educators. Furthermore, there is a need for research on STS in women due to women’s unique interactions with trauma and the potential for them to develop trauma disorders. At the time of this study, there …

Music Therapy At An Inclusive Early Learning Center: A Grant Proposal, Laura Elliott Buckner

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Music in early childhood can enhance the development of communication, language, cognitive, and social emotional skills. Music therapy administered by a board-certified music therapist can be tailored to fit the specific developmental needs of children with and without disabilities. The purpose of this comprehensive clinical project was to develop a music therapy program for the Early Learning Center at the Lexington Hearing and Speech Center and a grant proposal to fund this program. First, I piloted a mini program through my Graduate Clinical Placement in Music Therapy (MUS 633) and supervisory experiences through my teaching assistantship. I then developed a …

A Contextual History And Modern Edition Of J. Hyde’S 1799 English Trumpet Treatise: A New And Compleat Preceptor For The Trumpet & Bugle Horn: With The Whole Of Cavalry Duty As Approved Of And Ordered By His Royal Highness The Duke Of York … To Which Is Added A Selection Of Airs, Marches & Quick Steps For Three Trumpets, A Scale Of The Chromatic Trumpet With Airs Adapted For It, And A Collection Of Bugle Horn Duets, Clinton Gregory Linkmeyer

Theses and Dissertations--Music

For much of the trumpet’s long and varied history, it was considered a practical tool used for signaling more so than a music-making instrument. In 1614, Cesare Bendinelli wrote his Tutta L’arte Della Trombetta, which is often recognized as the first musical treatise written for trumpet. Scholars also recognize two other texts as being significant treatises: Girolamo Fantini’s Modo per imparare a sonare di tromba (1638), and Johann Ernst Altenburg’s Trumpeters’ and Kettledrummers’ Art (1795). The compilation and composition of A New and Complete Preceptor for the Trumpet and Bugle Horn by John Hyde in 1799 places it not only …

Polyrhythmic Pathways: Using Bimanual Coordination Research To Develop A New Framework For Practice, Performance, And Pedagogy, Christian Swafford

Theses and Dissertations--Music

This study reviews and compares percussion literature pertaining to polyrhythms and scientific literature pertaining to bimanual coordination. There exists a gap in the pedagogical approach to polyrhythms, and there is much disagreement between common instructional methods, especially when considered against the findings of several bimanual coordination studies. The purpose of this study is to reveal insight to the percussion community that the learning of polyrhythms is facilitated by the brain in novel ways, and the uniqueness of this learning process requires a rethinking of the current pedagogical approach. Percussion articles, method books, popular literature, and music scores are surveyed alongside …

Exploring Cary Boyce's 'Kosmos', Kristina Ploeger-Hekmatpanah

Theses and Dissertations--Music

A text with many layers of depth married to music with a variety of methods of interpretation allows for an academically satisfying learning, rehearsal, and performance process. Choral directors, and the choristers they serve, enjoy scrutinizing all the ways they feel connected to or disconnected from the text and music in any piece that proves worth their efforts. American composer Dr. Cary Boyce’s (b. 1955) Kosmos (2007), a setting of a poem from Walt Whitman (1819-1892) of the same name, indeed provides the substance an academic group desires. At choral festivals in the Pacific Northwest during the 2021-2022 academic year, …

Incorporating Activism Into Contemporary Music: An Analysis Of A Composition Portfolio, Mary Walsh

Theses and Dissertations--Music

An original music composition portfolio featuring White Coral, a composition for wind ensemble and tape, Cataclysm, a composition for bass trombone, tuba, and tape, Protest, a composition for chamber ensemble with text by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Mother of Men, a composition for chamber ensemble with text by Ida Couch Hazlett, The Blue Hour a composition for wind quintet, and Jerusalem a composition for a cappella voices.

Exploration Of Digital Synthesis, Angelo Indre

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

“An Exploration of Digital Synthesis” is a comprehensive investigation into the world of digital audio and music production. The paper explores the fundamental concepts of sound synthesis, including MIDI, virtual instruments (VSTs), and the JUCE framework. The central focus of the paper is the implementation of a custom synthesizer, which serves as a case study for the practical application of digital synthesis. The paper addresses the key question of how to create a functioning synthesizer from scratch, providing detailed insights into the programming and design process. Overall, the paper represents a significant contribution to the fields of digital audio and …

Defining Music Of A Questionable Past: A College Musician’S Approach, Noah Whetstone

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

In recent years, social movements have raised awareness on issues like whitewashing and the oppression of minority voices in fields such as music. These social movements have drawn attention to the cultural appropriation that sometimes occurs in music classrooms. Outcomes from recent legislation proposals and social conflicts across the United States threaten to limit educational opportunities. Although many people have understood these pieces of legislation to affect topics such as history and English, it may also affect music education. When choosing music to teach their students, music educators are often challenged as many songs have questionable pasts and make references …

Liquid Tab, Nathan Hulet

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Guitar transcription is a complex task requiring significant time, skill, and musical knowledge to achieve accurate results. Since most music is recorded and processed digitally, it would seem like many tools to digitally analyze and transcribe the audio would be available. However, the problem of automatic transcription presents many more difficulties than are initially evident. There are multiple ways to play a guitar, many diverse styles of playing, and every guitar sounds different. These problems become even more difficult considering the varying qualities of recordings and levels of background noise.

Machine learning has proven itself to be a flexible tool …

Exploring Nate Smith’S Approach To Improvising On The Two-Piece Drum-Kit Through Analysis Of Selected Performances With The Fearless Flyers, Zachary S. Wise

Theses : Honours

Nate Smith is a highly acclaimed contemporary drummer, songwriter, and composer who displays virtuosic facility and pushes the boundaries of creativity within the contemporary funk and jazz- fusion drumming landscape. In performances with dynamic funk band The Fearless Flyers, Smith uses an uncommon, simplified drum set-up comprising just the kick, snare, and hi-hat (termed the ‘two-piece drum kit’), which introduces a range of challenges around maintaining creativity and the listener’s interest through just three distinct voices. This study investigates Smith’s approach to improvising on this restricted kit through transcription and analysis of six improvisations from selected studio and live performances …

Performing Grrrlhood: A Lyrical Analysis Of Riot Grrrl Music, Vida Hasson

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis examines the lyrics of the three founding Riot Grrrl bands: Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, and Heavens to Betsy. I explore how Riot Grrrl bands politicize girlhood to undermine patriarchal authority and empower girls to redefine feminism for themselves. I provide the historical context for Riot Grrrl as a political movement and its cultural impact in the 1990s. In my analysis I connect the lyrics to feminist discourse to demonstrate how Riot Grrrl provided women and girls a platform to discuss feminism and patriarchal oppression. Music has the power to send messages to the masses and Riot Grrrl's legacy proves …

A Part From You, Kenneth Rick Briggenhorst Jr.

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

I invite empathy through art that is technologically assisted to find alternative interpretations for nontheologically informed faith. The sudden passing of my dearest friend, Jimmy, encouraged me to dig through my archives of data, to cherish all the bytes that remain of him. In this endeavor, I find that death is not the end, but a post-physical state of being. I express this sentiment in a part from you, where the work utilizes inanimate constructs to place your faith in, to make sense of the complexities of grief in a digitally tethered way of life. This life that allows many …