Musicology Commons^™

Casting The Bigger Shadow: The Methods And Business Of Petrucci Vs. Attaingnant, Sean A. Kisch

Musical Offerings

The music printing of Ottaviano Petrucci has been largely regarded by historians to be the most elegant and advanced form of music publishing in the Renaissance, while printers such as Pierre Attaingnant are only given an obligatory nod. Through historical research and a study of primary sources such as line-cut facsimiles, I sought to answer the question, how did the triple impression and single impression methods of printing develop, and is one superior to the other? While Petrucci’s triple impression method produced cleaner and more connected staves, a significant number of problems resulted, including pitch accuracy and cost efficiency. Attaingnant’s …

The Effect Of Richard Wagner's Music And Beliefs On Hitler's Ideology, Carolyn S. Ticker

Musical Offerings

The Holocaust will always be remembered as one of the most horrific and evil events in all of history. One question that has been so pervasive in regards to this historical event is the question of why. Why exactly did Hitler massacre the Jewish people? Why did he come to the conclusion that the Jews were somehow lesser than him, and that it was okay to kill them? What and who were his influences and how did they help form Hitler’s opinions leading up to the Holocaust? Although more than one situation or person influenced Hitler, I believe that one …

The Interwoven Evolution Of The Early Keyboard And Baroque Culture, Rachel Stevenson

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact that Baroque society had in the development of the early keyboard. While the main timeframe is Baroque, a few references are made to the late Medieval Period in determining the reason for the keyboard to more prominently emerge in the musical scene. As Baroque society develops and new genres are formed, different keyboard instruments serve vital roles unique to their construction. These new roles also affect the way music was written for the keyboard as well. Advantages and disadvantages of each instrument are discussed, providing an analysis of what would …

Musically Russian: Nationalism In The Nineteenth Century, Joshua J. Taylor

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

What does it mean to be Russian? In the nineteenth century, Russia saw a growth in nationalism. Intellectuals began producing literature, music, and artwork that represented Russian culture and served to separate them from France. In particular, music was a driving force in creating nationalism. Russian thought regarding national culture creation in the nineteenth century reflected the idea that every people group has a unique musical style. The influence of Russian musical style can be seen in the works of Musorgsky, Tchaikovsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov. Each of these composers contributed to nationalism in their own unique way.

Improvisation: The History Of Unplanned Notes In Structured Music, Daniel T. Galey

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Since improvisation is an important aspect of music in today’s society, questions arise whether improvisation was essential in music from the past or whether it even existed in the past. Rather than discussing the origin of improvisation, this paper will discuss the evolution of improvisation starting in the medieval period. This paper argues that improvisation did exist in the medieval period, and seeks to show certain ways in which it was evident and how it developed in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Many historically documented books discuss the music from different time periods. I specifically study the aspects of music …

Swing It Sister: The Influence Of Female Jazz Musicians On Music And Society, Kirsten Saur

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Female jazz vocalists, both as soloists and in groups, and instrumentalists, both as solo artists and in ensembles, of the jazz era influenced music and society in their own times and in later times. They added new musical concepts, added new vocal styles, worked to change the society they lived in, and worked hard to find their place in music no matter what got in their way, making them inspirations for future generations of women striving to succeed in the world. This paper looks at how these women of jazz influenced music, society, and future generations of women through their …

Music And Athletics: An Inseparable Bond, Alisha Symington

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Music is so deeply ingrained in nearly every part of our culture, it sometimes passes by unnoticed. However, if one were to remove music from its typical appearance, the resulting silence can be deafening. For example, in a film, such as Star Wars, if the main theme did not exist, the anticipation of the film and the overall reaction to the plot would be far less appealing. If clothing stores did not play spunky electronic music, would consumer’s shopping habits be altered? A strongly universal and historic aspect of culture that a lack of music would dramatically is the world …

From Bows To Sound-Chests: Tracing The Ancestry Of The Violin, Janelle Finley

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The subject of the ancestry of the violin is something that has been largely studied, researched, debated, and written about in great detail. However, despite all of the research and study, the ancestry of the violin is still not certain. This paper first presents two different schools of thought, each proposing different theories as to how the ancestry of the violin should be determined and what instruments should be included in the ancestry of the violin. The first school of thought proposes that the violin’s ancestry should be traced through the bow. The second theory proposes that the violin’s ancestry …

Musica In Tempore Belli: An Analysis Of “Black Angels”, Calvin D. Hitchcock

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Described as “…extraordinarily haunting” and “[the] intoxicating magic of…sound,”(Steinitz, 1978) the music of George Crumb is some of the most evocative and expressive music of the 20th century. His extensive use of extended techniques (many of which he pioneered) is in part what makes his music so memorable. Also known for its liberal use of theatricality, Crumb’s music has become a standard of the 20th century, as well as in the contemporary music canon overall.

“Black Angels” for Electric String Quartet, subtitled “Thirteen Images from the Dark Land” was written as a response to the Vietnam War and is one …

Birth Of The Pipes: The Organ From Its Beginnings Through The Baroque Era, Joshua Drake

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The purpose of this presentation is to survey the development of the organ, which is one of the most magnificent and impressive musical instruments known to man. The main objective is also to explain how and why the organ developed the way that it did. Further, the presentation will attempt to answer the following questions: what deficiencies in the performance of early organs were organ builders trying to improve on, what differences in sound did they want new organs to be able to produce, and how did the needs and preferences of organists influence changes in organ design? The majority …

From Silence To Golden: The Slow Integration Of Instruments Into Christian Worship, Jonathan Lyons

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The Christian church’s stance on the use of instruments in sacred music shifted through influences of church leaders, composers, and secular culture. Synthesizing the writings of early church leaders and church historians reveals a clear progression. The early musical practices of the church were connected to the Jewish synagogues. As recorded in the Old Testament, Jewish worship included instruments as assigned by one’s priestly tribe. Eventually, early church leaders rejected that inclusion and developed a rather robust argument against instruments in liturgical worship. The totalitarian stance on musical instruments in sacred worship began to loosen as the organ increased in …

An Unusual Success: A Study Of Modern Pop Music, Nate Chester

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

This research paper explores modern pop music’s ability to quickly capture the attention of listeners. Its purpose is to provide evidence that explains the success of pop songs through the recording industry’s advanced methods of production. This paper discusses the perfected ability of these methods to quickly “hook” the listener and potentially result in a viral dissemination of the music through a combined use of modern technology. Evidence is shown both through the study of these methods and through the examination of specific examples in seeking to identify the reasons behind the success of this music. An emphasis is placed …

Coursing With Coils: The Only Orchestral Instrument Harder Than The French Horn, Sarah R. Plumley

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Playing the horn has become not only more sophisticated and accurate, but simpler and more efficient for the horn player than what it was three hundred years ago. The natural horn, used in a variety ways in early history, demanded an incredible level of skill and precision, more than our valved horn today in some ways because it required a more accurate ear, more embouchure dexterity, and the necessity of wrangling crooks for different keys. Thus, it required many practiced skills of the player that are no longer as necessary as they once were. This paper discusses each of these …

Identity In Music, Josiah D. Keith

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Whether consciously or not, every person answers the question, “Who am I?” Every mundane action, every syllable spoken, and even every event that affects someone, contribute to the realization of “who I am.” The answer to this question is always an individual’s identity. Identity helps a person achieve a desired social acceptance or success in a certain field. Much of the same can be said for the identity of a group. Different groups throughout history have constantly been fighting for their place in history. The identity of a group is based on the values that they hold, their ideals, actions, …

The Interwoven Evolution Of The Early Keyboard And Baroque Culture, Rachel Stevenson

Musical Offerings

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact that Baroque society had in the development of the early keyboard. While the main timeframe is Baroque, a few references are made to the late Medieval Period in determining the reason for the keyboard to more prominently emerge in the musical scene. As Baroque society develops and new genres are formed, different keyboard instruments serve vital roles unique to their construction. These new roles also affect the way music was written for the keyboard as well. Advantages and disadvantages of each instrument are discussed, providing an analysis of what would …

From Bows To Sound-Chests: Tracing The Ancestry Of The Violin, Janelle R. Finley

Musical Offerings

The ancestry of the violin is a subject that has been studied, researched, debated, and written about in great detail. However, despite all of the research and study, the ancestry of the violin is still not certain. This paper presents two schools of thought that propose different theories as to how the ancestry of the violin should be determined and what instruments should be included in the ancestry of the violin. The first school of thought proposes that the violin’s ancestry should be traced through the bow. The second theory proposes that the violin’s ancestry should be traced through the …

Coursing With Coils: The Only Orchestral Instrument Harder Than The French Horn, Sarah R. Plumley

Musical Offerings

Playing the horn has become not only more sophisticated and accurate, but simpler and more efficient for the horn player. The natural horn, used in a variety ways in early history, demanded an incredible level of skill and precision, more than our valved horn today in some ways because it required a more accurate ear, more embouchure dexterity, and the necessity of wrangling crooks for different keys. Thus, it required many practiced skills of the player that are no longer as necessary as they once were. This paper discusses each of these demands along with the history of the horn, …

Birth Of The Pipes: The Organ From Its Beginnings Through The Baroque Era, Joshua D. Drake

Musical Offerings

The purpose of this presentation is to survey the development of the organ, which is one of the most magnificent and impressive musical instruments known to man. The main objective is also to explain how and why the organ developed the way that it did. Further, the presentation will attempt to answer the following questions: what deficiencies in the performance of early organs were organ builders trying to improve on, what differences in sound did they want new organs to be able to produce, and how did the needs and preferences of organists influence changes in organ design? The majority …

It's Instrumental, My Dear Watson: A Collective Investigation Of Early Instrumental Practices, Jillissa A. Brummel, Nate Chester, Joshua Drake, Janelle Finley, Josiah D. Keith, Jonathan Lyons, Sarah R. Plumley, Kirsten Saur, Rachel Stevenson

Music and Worship Student Publications

No abstract provided.