Composition Commons^™

Fantasy Variations On George Gershwin's Prelude Ii For Piano: An Analysis And Conductor's Guide, Brian Stevon Taylor

Dissertations

Donald Grantham has received much acclaim and awards for his compositions. Fantasy Variations proves to be noteworthy addition to his collected works and to the band repertoire. The work won the NBA/William Revelli Memorial Band Composition Contest in 1998 and the ABA/Ostwald Award in 1999. The piece has received much acclaim and many performances with several commercial recordings. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the importance of the band music of Donald Grantham through an analysis of one of his award-winning works. Further, another aim would be to help more bands perform this noteworthy piece by assisting in …

A Stylistic Analysis Of Six Pieces For Solo Piano By Rodion Shchedrin And A Stylistic Analysis Of Trespreludiosa Modo De Toccata, Dos Danzas Cubanas, And Estudio De Contrastes By Harold Gramatges, Amanda Virelles Del Valle

Dissertations

This document compiles stylistic analysis for performance of selected works by the Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin and the Cuban composer Harold Gramatges. The piano music of these composers has been gaining international acclaim since the 1950's. The unique harmonic language, the elements of folklore, and the virtuosity found in these pieces make them very attractive for performance and research.

The document unites two papers, each supplementing lecture recitals offered on April 16 and 28, 2008. In each paper, after a brief biographical summary and an account of the piano repertoire of the respective composer, the pieces are examined, and matters …

Four Twentieth-Century Mass Ordinary Settings Surveyed Using The Dictates Of The Motu Proprio Of 1903 As A Stylistic Guide, Jonathan Candler Kilgore

Dissertations

In the first half of the twentieth century, major attempts at reform were occurring in music written for the Catholic Church. At the heart of this reform was the 1903 Motu Proprio of Pope St. Pius X. This document sought to bring clarity and focus to sacred music through limitation, as well as causing sacred music composers to make changes in their compositional methods. While still being modern, music had to conform to certain rules and regulations in order to be functional within the Catholic liturgy. The document also provided a great deal of detailed information regarding day-to-day occurrences within …

Jack Stamp: A Biographical Sketch And Analysis Of Symphony No. 1 - "In Memoriam David Diamond", Dawn Anna Perry

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to provide information about Jack Stamp as a prominent composer of wind band literature, with a focus on his compositional techniques. An analysis of Symphony No. 1 - "In Memoriam David Diamond" illustrated Stamp's varying compositional styles from lyrical to highly contrapuntal with syncopation, changing meters, modal and extended harmonies, and colorful use of percussion - characteristics found in his works at all ability levels. An interview with the composer documented his compositional influences, his thoughts on wind band literature, conducting, and specific techniques employed in Symphony No. 1. To date Stamp has published …

A Comparison Of Two Distinctive Jazz Trombone Artists, David Steinmeyer And Curtis Fuller, Eddie Lee Elsey Jr.

Dissertations

This dissertation discusses two jazz trombonists, David Steinmeyer and Curtis Fuller. Six solos performed by these two artists are analyzed for the purpose of studying and comparing their individual styles of playing. Each solo is analyzed melodically, harmonically, and rhythmically with musical excerpts from each solo included to provide emphasis on a particular area.

This dissertation also includes comparisons of overall styles, full transcriptions of each solo, discographies for both artists, and brief biographical sketches of each artist. Although the artists play in different styles, they still share similar philosophies in approaching the performance of playing jazz trombone.

Instrumental Tango Idioms In The Symphonic Works And Orchestral Arrangements Of Astor Piazzolla. Performance And Notational Problems: A Conductor's Perspective, Alejandro Marcelo Drago

Dissertations

Tango performance practices and notational conventions included in the orchestral works of Astor Piazzolla belong in two groups. The first is tango performance manner, or the specific way of rendering the written musical text; and the second is tango special effects, which could be defined as a group of non-traditional (for European music) instrumental techniques specific to tango music. Both groups are part of a performance style that has been poorly systematized, if at all, and kept alive only by means of face-to-face transmission. The purpose of this dissertation is to identify and analyze the challenges that Piazzolla faced while …

A Comparative Analysis Of Poetic Structure As The Primary Determinant Of Musical Form In Selected A Cappella Choral Works Of Gerald Finzi And Benjamin Britten, Andrew Malcolm Jensen

Dissertations

Numerous scholars have identified the relationship linking words and music as the prime factor in the success of both Gerald Finzi's and Benjamin Britten's vocal music. However, few authors provide a satisfactory discussion concerning the specific musical elements used to achieve that success. Those that do, typically focus upon textual/musical correspondences that highlight poetic meaning at the phrase or single word level. Additionally, no known source draws connections between the text-setting practices of these composers. This dissertation seeks to identify the association of text and music on a larger scale: specifically, the influence of poetic structure as the primary determinant …

A Performer's Analysis Of Eric Ewazen's Sonata For Trumpet And Piano, Joseph Daniel Mcnally Iii

Dissertations

Eric Ewazen is a prolific composer whose works are becoming standard repertoire for not only trumpet players but also for brass quintets, soloists, and wind ensembles alike. Ewazen wrote the Sonata for Trumpet and Piano for the International Trumpet Guild, and it was premiered by Chris Gekker, trumpet, and Ewazen, piano, in 1995 in Bloomington, Indiana.

This document illuminates some of the characteristics of Ewazen's music, and summarizes the music's technical and performance demands, based on firsthand performing experience. It should also offer practical observations and recommendations for the performance of Eric Ewazen's Sonata for Trumpet and Piano.

An Analytical Conductor's Guide To The Satb A Capella Works Of Arvo Part, Kimberly Anne Cargile

Dissertations

Arvo Part (b. 1935) is an Estonian composer whose works include film scores, piano and organ works, chamber music, choral/orchestral works, and unaccompanied choral works. This dissertation is limited to the composer's SATB a cappella works. During an eight-year "period of silence" from 1968 to 1976, Part ceased serious composition in order to find his true compositional "voice." During this hiatus, Part abandoned his Lutheran faith, converting to the Russian Orthodox Church, and discovered a fascination with sacred Medieval and Renaissance music, which had been denied him as a student in the USSR. These events, added to the lingering influence …

Trends In Historic And Modern Performance Practice For The Trumpet In Richard Wagner’S Der Ring Des Nibelungen, Michael Ryan Ellzey

Dissertations

The purpose of this document is to compare the Alto F trumpet used by the players of Richard Wagner’s orchestra to the modem trumpet, with reference to specific excerpts from Der Ring des Nibelungen. It will discuss topics pertaining to transposition, range, keys, timbre, and crooking. Other elements that will be explored are the evolution of the valved trumpet and how it led to the Alto F trumpet. The document will also discuss the eventual replacement of the Alto F trumpet by the modem C and B-flat trumpets. Included in this section will be a historic study of the …

Martin Ellerby: A Biographical Sketch Of The Composer And Descriptive Analysis Of Paris Sketches And Symphony For Winds, Jeffrey Cliff Mathews

Dissertations

This study of the wind band music of Martin Ellerby was undertaken in order to obtain information about the important components of his musical style and to understand his compositional procedures. An interview with the composer combined with other background information related important influences and events in the development of his musical language. Martin Ellerby has published over seventy works that include compositions for wind band, brass band, orchestra, choir, and chamber ensembles. Paris Sketches and Symphony for Winds are representative of his wind band output; therefore, these are the focus of this project. Their proper performance requires significant study …