Composition Commons^™

Eric Ewazen: A Critical Analysis Of Ballade For Trombone, Harp, And Strings, Kathryn Roslee

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Forbidden Planet: Film Score For Full Orchestra, Tim Perrine

Graduate Thesis Collection

The intent of my master's thesis is two-fold. First, I wanted to present a largescale work for orchestra that showcased the skills and craft I have developed as a composer (and orchestrator) to date. Secondly, since my goal as a composer is to work in Hollywood as a film composer, I wanted my large-scale work to function as a film score, providing the emotional backbone and highlighting action for a major motion picture. In order to achieve this, I needed a film that was both larger-than-life and contained, in my opinion, an easily replaceable score (or no score at all). …

On Kathleen E. R. Smith's God Bless America: Tin Pan Alley Goes To War, Matthew Hein

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

[First paragraph]

When America's Top 40 starts counting down, are those best-sellers of popular music the results of clever top-down marketing ploys and mass-psyche machinations, or do those lists reflect vox populi, making itself heard with its purchasing dollars above the din of preplanned propaganda? Kathleen E.R. Smith doesn't seem to care. Perhaps it isn't her place to consider such possibly unsolvable questions. Smith's place, apparently, is to research the records in disarray that detail an interesting phenomenon: that of the top-down attempt to create and popularize a great American fight song (assuming the role Over There filled during WWI) …

Microtonal Systems And Guitar Composition, Michael Nielsen

Masters

This thesis focuses on the use of microtones in guitar composition. In the course of this study the physical aspects of musical sound (pitch, loudness and quality/timbre), vibrational frequencies of strings, and the theory of musical scales and tuning systems are discussed. Whole-number ratios corresponding to musical intervals within the twelve-note/equal temperament scale are calculated in relation to the overtone series for the purpose of surveying consonance and dissonance within the tempered system. These are compared to the ratios for corresponding intervals within the overtone series. Whole-number ratios are also calculated for intervals involving the microtones referred to in this …

Concerto For Marimba And Orchestra, Scott Blasco

Masters Theses

The Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra is a three-movement work in the traditional concerto form. The first movement is roughly Sonata-form, the second movement is in essence a set of variations on two mutually derivative melodies over an almost constant rhythmic motive of five eighth-notes, and the third movement is a short through-composed finale based on a quirky, angular melody. The tonal scheme of the concerto is fairly traditional, in that the outer two movements focus on an 'A' tonal center, while the slower middle movement is based on an 'E' tonality. Quintal, extended and added-tone tertian, and mixed cluster-based …

As The Ruin Falls, Luke Dahn

Masters Theses

As the Ruin Falls is a two-movement work scored for full orchestra, augmented with bass clarinet, piano, and three percussionists. Though the title comes from a poem written by C.S. Lewis, it is in no way is a programmatic representation of the poem's content. Furthermore, the programmatic "scenes" in the second movement do not relate to the poem. The title was selected only to signify the work's rather ominous character.

The primary musical building block for the entire work is a four-note chord whose construction is symmetrical - two minor thirds separated by a perfect fourth: C-Eb-Ab-Cb (or B). The …

Two Chinese Festivals, Peng (Pamela) Chen

Masters Theses

Two Chinese Festivals is a music piece written for a chamber-sized orchestra. The first movement Kite Festival is a traditional Chinese celebration in which people give thanks that the spring is coming. The second movement Lantern Festival is an event run on the fifteenth day of Chinese New Year. People make many varieties of Lanterns that represent different ancient Chinese tales. Then the lanterns are displayed on all the city streets.

Time Out, Tune In: Paul Desmond And Musical Coherence In The Odd-Metered Jazz Of The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Gary E. Jack

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis examines the improvised saxophone solos of Paul Desmond (1924- 1977) on the classic album Time Out (recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1959) with the purpose of delineating their contribution to the musical whole in terms of melodic, harmonic, rhythmic, timbral, and dynamic, and formal elements.

Two Settings: For Clarinet, Viola, And Piano, Daniel Vendt

Compositions

No abstract provided.

Give Us Love, Give Us Peace | 10-96470, James Q. Mulholland

Music Faculty Scores

Give Us Love, Give Us Peace

Part Number:
10-96470

Price:
$2.10

Voicing:
SSA

Lyrics By:
Jean Ingelow (1820-1897)

Music By:
James Q. Mulholland

Commissioned by the
Mississippi Girlchoir, Lillian Lee Director
For Treble Song

Laugh And Be Merry | 10-96480, James Q. Mulholland

Music Faculty Scores

Laugh And Be Merry, DATB & Treble (or Solo) Voices with Keyboard Accompaniment

Part Number:
10-96480

Price:
$2.10

Voicing:
Treble & SATB

Lyrics By:
John Masefield

Music By:
James Q. Mulholland

Commissioned by Suzanne and Ralph Lange for The Livingston County (MI) Chorale
Marilyn S. Jones, Founding Artistic Director

Timeless | 10-96460, James Q. Mulholland

Music Faculty Scores

Timeless

Part Number:
10-96460

Price:
$2.40

Voicing:
SATB

Lyrics By:
Jay Enos

Music By:
James Q. Mulholland

Commissioned by Jubilate Choral, Brockton, Massachusetts,
Maxine M. Asseling, Music Direcor, and Evelyn A. Sellstone in loving memory
of John Stanley Sellstone and in celebration of the Chorale's 25th Anniversary.

Sakura, Sakura | 16-96870, Christopher Matthews

Music Faculty Scores

Sakura, Sakura

Part Number:
16-96870

Price:
$1.75

Voicing:
SA

Music By:
Japanese Folk Song

Arranged By:
Christopher Matthews

Translation:
Cherry Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms.
On mountains, in villages.
As far as you can see.
They look like fog or clouds.
They are fragrant in the morning sun.
Cherry Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms.
In full bloom.

Watch a Video!

Hope | 16-96880, Christopher Matthews

Music Faculty Scores

Hope

Part Number:
16-96880

Price:
$1.75

Voicing:
SATB

Lyrics By:
Emily Dickinson

Music By:
Christopher Matthews

Lamb, The | 16-96890, Christopher Matthews

Music Faculty Scores

The Lamb

Part Number:
16-96890

Price:
$1.75

Voicing:
SATB

Lyrics By:
William Blake

Music By:
Christopher Matthews

Watch A Video!

Cradle Song | 20-96310, Peter J. Durow

Music Faculty Scores

Cradle Song

Part Number:
20-96310

Price:
$1.90

Voicing:
SA

Lyrics By:
Lord Alfred Tennyson

Music By:
Peter J. Durow

Dance While The Music Sings To You | 20-96440, Greg Gilpin

Music Faculty Scores

Dance While The Music Sings To You

Part Number:
20-96440

Price:
$1.85

Voicing:
SA

Music By:
Greg Gilpin

Four Choruses From Ghana | 20-96400, Paschal Yao Young

Music Faculty Scores

Four Choruses From Ghana

Part Number:
20-96400

Price:
$2.20

Voicing:
SSA

Arranged By:
Paschal Yao Younge

with optional Percussion

Dona Nobis Pacem - Satb Ensemble Parts | 20-96412, Helen Litz, Annette Hay

Music Faculty Scores

Dona Nobis Pacem
Instrumental Parts

Part Number:
20-96412

Price:
$22.00

Voicing:
SATB

Music By:
Giulio Caccini

Arranged By:
H. Litz/A. Hay

Dona Nobis Pacem - Unison Ensemble Parts | 20-96417, Helen Litz, Annette Hay

Music Faculty Scores

Dona Nobis Pacem
Instrumental Parts

Part Number:
20-96412

Price:
$22.00

Voicing:
Unison

Music By:
Giulio Caccini

Arranged By:
H. Litz/A. Hay

Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burnin' | 20-96430, Greg Gilpin

Music Faculty Scores

Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burnin'
Traditional Spiritual

Part Number:
20-96430

Price:
$1.85

Voicing:
Two-Part Treble

Arranged By:
Greg Gilpin

Featured at:
2016 KCDA Summer Conference

Love Lies Under The Old Oak Tree | 20-96380, Susan Brumfield

Music Faculty Scores

Love Lies Under The Old Oak Tree

Part Number:
20-96380

Price:
$1.90

Voicing:
SSAA

Arranged By:
Susan Brumfield

Featured at:
2013 Oklahoma Circle the State with Song
2014 NyACDA Summer Conference
2015 National ACDA Convention

One Man Shall Mow My Meadow | 20-96390, Susan Brumfield

Music Faculty Scores

One Man Shall Mow My Meadow

Part Number:
20-96390

Price:
$1.90

Voicing:
SA

Arranged By:
Susan Brumfield

Featured at:
2014 NyACDA Summer Conference

This Little Light Of Mine | 20-96460, Ken Berg

Music Faculty Scores

This Little Light Of Mine
from "Three Spirituals"

Part Number:
20-96460

Price:
$1.90

Voicing:
Unison

Arranged By:
Ken Berg with'Cello (Part Included)

Featured at:
2013 IA-MEA Fall Conference Reading Session
2013 NEMWA Elementary Reading Session
2013 NJACDA Reading Session
2014 CA-MEA Annual Workshop
2014 Green Lakes Summer Conference

Ton Thé - Sa | 20-96350, Susan Brumfield

Music Faculty Scores

Ton Thé

Part Number:
20-96350

Price:
$1.90

Voicing:
SA

Music By:
J. & R. Gilmore

Arranged By:
Susan Brumfield with opt. Xylophone and Drum Set Parts

Featured at:
2013 KyACDA Fall Convocation
2013 ILMEA District 1 Reading Session

Ton Thé - Inst. Parts | 20-96351, Susan Brumfield

Music Faculty Scores

Ton Thé Instrumental Parts

Part Number:
20-96351

Price:
$11.00

Music By:
J. & R. Gilmore

Arranged By:
Susan Brumfield xylo;drum set

Ton Thé - Satb | 20-96355, Susan Brumfield

Music Faculty Scores

Ton Thé

Part Number:
20-96355

Price:
$1.95

Voicing:
SATB

Music By:
J. & R. Gilmore

Arranged By:
Susan Brumfield

Featured at:
2014 WA ACDA Summer Institute

Windows Baritone, Ron Mcfarland

The Ron McFarland Collection

Music composition written for baritone singer accompany poems written by C.P. Cavafy.

Windows Lower Soprano, Ron Mcfarland

The Ron McFarland Collection

Music composition written for lower soprano singer accompanying poems written by C.P. Cavafy.

Windows Piano, Mezzo Soprano, Baritone (Full Score), Ron Mcfarland

The Ron McFarland Collection

Music composition written for piano, and mezzo soprano and baratone singers accompanying poems written by C.P. Cavafy.