Musicology Commons^™

Elsewhere: In Defense Of Daydreaming, Alex Braden

MFA in Visual Art

Much like music, organic life is an absurd, improbable, and serendipitous instance. I set circular, electric, acoustic, and magnetic forces in motion and allow them to coalesce freely in the hopes of synthesizing unexpected moments of beauty, connection, and harmony.

Jorge Peixinho ‒ In Memoriam For Solo Guitar: A Compositional And Interpretative Tribute, Pedro Baptista, Pedro Rodrigues, Evgueni Zoudilkine

The 21st Century Guitar

This paper focuses on a compositional and interpretative tribute, consisting of a work for solo guitar composed by Pedro Baptista in 2021 and titled Jorge Peixinho ‒ In Memoriam. The piece is intended to crystallize, focus and amplify recurrent and characteristic elements of Jorge Peixinhoʼs (1940-1995) guitar writing, During the second half of the 20th century, shaping the avant-garde musical movement in Portugal, this composer developed and used a range of techniques, effects, gestures and structures, which Baptista now explores in a systematic way. These elements were identified through analysis and hands-on exploration with the guitar of Peixinhoʼs manuscripts, as …

William Walton: The Evolution Of The Five Bagatelles, Kenneth Kam

The 21st Century Guitar

The distinguished British composer, William Walton wrote his first work involving the guitar in 1960. This is the song cycle Anon. in Love, composed for tenor Peter Pears and guitarist Julian. He wrote his only solo guitar work in 1971, Five Bagatelles, which he dedicated to the composer Malcolm Arnold, and was premiered by Bream in the same year. Walton admitted that he had never thought of writing for the guitar but was encouraged to do so by Julian Bream. This work was written hand-in-hand between Bream and Walton in Ischia, Italy, in which Bream even provided a chart which …

Making Malice Musical: Verdi’S Compositional Journey Through The Eyes Of Six Villains, Michael Chadwick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Giuseppe Verdi is a pillar of the operatic world and had a profound impact on the evolution of the art form. From a rudimentary beginning, he developed over time from a popular creator of operas in the solita forma style of 19^th century Italy into a master craftsman of combining music, text, and theatrical drama. Verdi utilized the popular compositional formal convention of solita forma to begin his career. Over time he evolved beyond its boundaries and shifted his focus to the holistic theatrical presentation of the drama. Much has been written about this evolution through analysis of Verdi’s …

Three Settings Of "Cruda Amarilli:" Examining Melismatic Cadences And Word Repetitions That Convey Meaning, Peter Richardson

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis was to do a comparative analysis between three settings of “Cruda Amarilli:” one by Monteverdi in 1605, and two by D’India in 1606 and 1609, and to interpret my findings. I focused on each composers use of melismatic cadences and word repetitions in each setting.

A Herderian Perspective On Finland, Sibelius, And The Kalevala, Philip R. Cataldo

Musical Offerings

Situated amidst the revolutionary spirits of 19^th-century Europe, Finnish nationalists sought to bring an end to roughly half a millennium of foreign rule for their land and their people. According to the German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder, a community must have a common language and a common history in order to constitute a nation. At this time, Finland had neither. Although Herder’s political philosophy is considered crucial to understanding the nationalist movements that took place in Europe during this period, Finland’s peculiar success in attaining and sustaining independence has until this point remained unexplained relative to a Herderian …

Singing Planets Don't Sing; They Speak, Joanna R. Lauer

Musical Offerings

Ancient Greek philosophers conceived a theory called Music of the Spheres. This ancient theory progressed for almost one thousand years before finally proving itself untrustworthy. However, this examination uncovers an overlooked fact: the large amount of natural order in sound and music existing before the creation of man. Scripture reveals that God is a God of order, and an extensive amount of natural order is found in the universe. Evidence points to God being the creator of the universe. Specific examples of such evidence are the inherent order of sound laid out in pitches, interval ratios, the overtone series, the …

A Masterpiece Amid Musical Suppression: An Analysis Of Dmitri Shostakovich’S Symphony No. 5, Matthew Dulas

Honors Capstone Projects

Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a 20th century Soviet-era composer. He is considered to be amongst the greatest classical composers of his time. Some of his most famous works include his string quartets, symphonies, and piano works. Despite his success and popularity, Shostakovich did not have an easy livelihood. His tensions with the Soviet government, particularly under Joseph Stalin, plagued him for most of his life. He fought a constant battle of creating music that was true to himself and that which would satisfy the Soviet officials. Shostakovich often had to adjust his composing style in order to maintain good standing. …

Early Instruments In 21st Century Composition And An Original Composition For Saxophones And Viols, Jacob Bitinas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Composers continually seek new timbres and sonorities to bend to their will. The early music revival of the twentieth century has resurrected dozens of instruments that have gone unutilized in contemporary composition for centuries. The historically-informed-performance movement has now evolved to a point where early instruments and period performance techniques can add extraordinary new characters to twenty-first century compositions. This thesis explores how composers effectively utilize early instruments like the viola da gamba, harpsichord, lute, and recorder in their compositions.

The document also contains interview transcripts from eight composers and performers, including Nico Muhly, Liam Byrne, Martha Bishop, David Loeb, …

New Paradigms In Band Performance: An Analysis Of Three Prototypes, Scott Walker-Parker

Glenn Korff School of Music: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Creative Work, and Performance

This document seeks to propose new paradigms in band performance through inter-, multi-, and transdisciplinarity. Initial inspirations were drawn from performance innovations shaped by the new music theater which became popular in the 20^th century. Key concepts which were used throughout the creative, planning, logistic, rehearsal, and performance processes are analyzed in three recitals through prototypes of new paradigms in band performance. These concepts include accessibility and community, nonverbal/multimodal performance and instruction versus time, and nonverbal/multimodal communication.

The document has been organized in a manner which highlights successes and breakdowns of each process so future refinement can be made. …

The Reconciliation Of Theology And Mythology In Philosophical Defenses Of Music In Early Modern London, Leanna York

Graduate Thesis Collection

Since Antiquity, elements of Greek mythology and Hebraic history have intersected in many forms of literary and visual art. Renaissance philosophers, moved by skepticism, struggled to reconcile the historical and theological contradictions of these ancient sources, and scholars of European history Arthur Ferguson and Jean Seznec recognize resulting trends of mythological interpretation among authors of diverse disciplines. My research investigates ways in which London university professors John Taverner, John Case and an anonymous Oxford author utilized these interpretive methods in their music treatises of the early modern period and discusses the intersection of Protestant theology and Greek mythology in these …

Fatale, Fragile, And Furiosa: Redefining Female Tropes For A New Generation Of Feminism In Jeanne Shaffer's Three Faces Of Woman For Clarinet And Piano, Olivia Harrison

Music Undergraduate Honors Theses

Among the discipline of music, the representation of women in music professions and the artform itself reveals great disparities between gender identities. In spite of this, musician and composer Jeanne Shaffer approaches the ongoing fight for women’s representation and equity in music. Shaffer’s piece “Three Faces of Woman” for clarinet and piano (1995) depicts three delineations of femininity that women are reduced to. Influenced by cultural minimalization of women, Shaffer’s piece uses different compositional genres as vehicles to illustrate these ever-present stereotypes and the unyielding need to combat them. The first movement presents the trope of the Femme Fatale; the …

“Grant Us Wisdom, Grant Us Courage:” Theology In The Organ Music Of Paul Manz, Justin Oei

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Through an investigation of the organ music of the American composer Paul Manz (1919-2009), this study will seek to link sacred music with the composer’s theological convictions, as well as with external circumstances that inform compositional practices. Manz’s organ works are widely performed in church and concert settings, especially in the American Lutheran tradition, and his motet E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come has become a staple of the sacred choral repertoire, selling over a million copies since its publication in 1954. Despite this, very little scholarship has been produced on his life and work. Broadly, this provides an avenue …

Heavy And Hateful: Growth Of White Supremacy And Neo-Nazism In Skinhead Punk And Black Metal, Kevin Grether

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This paper explores the presence of White Supremacists, racists and neo-Nazis within the genres and associated subcultures of skinhead punk and black metal. It discusses the history of both genres and how specific events and subcultural aspects contributed to the growth in both number and influence of racist actors in each scene. It also discusses the ways in which that racism manifests within the music itself as a means of fascist recruitment and propaganda, using examples taken from specific popular racist artists.

Chopin’S Piano Sonata No. 3 In B Minor Op. 58: A Structural Analysis, Maverick Harrold

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 3 in b minor Op. 58 is an incredibly important composition to the world of music. This work will uncover many of the unique facets and features of this piece as well as discover the beautiful intricacies of each of the four movements. By learning about this sonata, the reader will gain an understanding of the importance of musical structure and musical form and will gain insight into the ways of Chopin’s compositional style and of romantic piano music as a whole.

Give The Drummer Some: A Dive Into Drum Breaks And Drum Break Production, Kyle Kaldhusdal

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This paper traces the history of hip-hop culture through the evolution of the drum break, the original context of drum breaks in funk and soul music, their influence on DJ culture, and the subsequent impact of drum breaks on music and music production. It follows the development of breakbeat compilations in the 1970s and 1980s, parallel to the development of turntablism and sampling techniques. It also examines in detail how copyright litigation in the 1990s shaped the development of sample-based music genres and created a niche market for originally-recorded drum breaks over the subsequent decades.

Music & Synesthesia: An Exploration Of Synesthesia And Its Relation To Musical Perception, Raquel S. Johnson

Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference (PURCC)

This research investigates synesthesia and its impact on musical perception. Synesthesia is the multimodal sensory phenomenon in which the stimulation of one sensory modality generates the experience of a second, otherwise unrelated sense. Discussed topics include: a description of synesthesia and its neurophysiological and perceptual characteristics, the historical conceptualization and documentation of synesthesia beginning with the ancient Greeks, and present-day scientific inquiry. This research explores three varying types of auditory synesthesia - chromesthesia (sound-to-color synesthesia), auditory-tactile synesthesia, and sound-gustatory/sound-olfactory synesthesia - and their multimodal sensory characteristics in relation to music. Prominent neurophysiological hypotheses regarding the existence of synesthesia are examined, …

The Color Of Sound: An Insight On Chromesthesia, Lupe Rodriguez

Honors Capstones

Many people can see with their eyes, but there are some people who can see through sound. Chromesthesia is when sound involuntarily evokes an experience of color through shapes and movement. The goal of this project is to show what this experience is like and give people an opportunity to experience it in a way themselves.

The Color of Sound Website Prototype

Organs In Colonial New England Puritan Churches, Jacob Skaggs

ATU Research Symposium

Puritans, often referred to as the founders of America, held strict religious doctrines that alienated themselves from other Christians. One such doctrine is the outlawing of instruments in public worship. However, it took only about 150 years for such anti-instrument sentiments to shift towards acceptance. The reinstatement of organs in Puritan Churches seems to follow trends of increased religious tolerance caused by both theological and social developments. This paper relates organs to tolerance through examination of theological and musical documents from 17th and 18th century Puritans. This research provides a lens for examining today's church worship doctrines through the context …

Five Thousand Years Of Egyptian Double-Pipes And Musical Cultural Influences, Samuel T. Holtkamp

ATU Research Symposium

Ancient Egypt was one of the earliest of human societies to pursue the development of music, and many of the musical concepts they pioneered over five-thousand years ago are still in use. Along with the preservation of musical ideas, certain ancient Egyptian instruments have also stood the test of time, through both preservation and evolution. However, the development of these instruments from their ancient to modern forms is sparsely discussed. Along with this, virtually no research explores the evolution of these instrument forms from a chronological context. This paper seeks to investigate and chronologize forms of the ancient Egyptian double-pipe, …

From Story To Song: Exploring The Storytelling Potential Of Instrumental Music, Celine Darr

Honors Projects

For this project, I have composed a piece of program music with the aim of capturing scenes from Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" through music. The project seeks to answer questions regarding the elements that make instrumental music "programmatic", or able to portray a story.

Chinese Folk Song Meets Western Compositional Technique—A Case Study Of Zhou Long’S The Partita For The Violin And The Piano, Bo Wu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In the field of contemporary Chinese music, a large number of outstanding composers and works have emerged in China. As one of the most prominent Chinese American composers, Zhou Long has created many excellent pieces that combine Chinese national elements with world-class composition techniques. These contributions have helped promote Chinese music on the global stage. Zhou Long possesses profound creative skills, with a deep understanding of both Chinese national modes and Western composition techniques. By applying these skills and techniques to his works, he has developed a unique style that integrates Chinese national features with modern music concepts and techniques, …

Fellowship Application Sample, Ryan Ebright

ICS Fellow Applications

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Investigation Of Tonal Memory Improvements With Electronic And Vocal Pitch Stimulus Training, Grayson M. Fletcher

Senior Theses

The study described herein compares improvements in tonal memory for young adults (age 19- 22), specifically retention of pitches, between two groups (n1=8, n2=8) with nearly identical training programs. One group was provided electronic pitch stimuli for the training program, while the other group was given human vocal stimuli. Self-paced computerized training sessions were conducted in a soundproofed testing room and interposed between pre-test and post-test measurements. A pre-test—post-test randomized experimental design allowed for assessment of whether the training was effective for each group in addition to comparing effectiveness of training between groups. Analyses with demographic factors, particularly previous musical …

Humor In Western European Instrumental Music: How Humor Works, Its Usage Over Time, And Accessible Teaching Strategies, Hunter K. Thompson

Senior Theses

This research’s purpose was to examine the perception of humor, both generally and musically, and to provide an overview of how humor has been incorporated into Western European instrumental music from the Medieval Age to the 20th century. In order to evaluate this, the researcher conducted a listening survey to gauge how well college music majors perceive humor in instrumental music. The survey consisted of eleven total listening excerpts approved by the Music History faculty at the University of South Carolina School of Music. Nine excerpts were coded humorous, and two excerpts were coded non-humorous for control. There was a …

A Historical Comparison Of The St. John And St. Matthew Passions Of Johann Sebastian Bach, Emily Dunlap

Honors College

The St. John and St. Matthew Passions, based on the Gospels of the same names, are the only two existing passions by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach that have survived from the Baroque music world. However, the St. Matthew Passion is more well-known and recognized than the St. John Passion. Why is that? One of the reasons why this may be the case is because the St. Matthew Passion is a larger, more extensive work compared to the St John Passion in relation to its parts. The St Matthew Passion is equipped with an orchestra, a double choir, …

Soundboard Scholar No. 8: Cover

Soundboard Scholar

Cover image: Ex Libris bookplate for Jane Patterson by Robert Anning Bell. Line illustration from 1893 that appeared in The Studio: An Illustrated Magazine of Fine and Applied Art. Private Collection.

Italian Opera In New York City, 1825-1860, Davide Ceriani

College of Performing Arts Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Editor's Letter, Jonathan Leathwood

Soundboard Scholar

An introduction to the contents of Soundboard Scholar, no. 8.

J.S. Bach As A Religious Storyteller – The Second Brandenburg Concerto, Emma Locarnini

Graduate Student Research Symposium

The sacred music of Johann Sebastian Bach, written during the composer’s employments at churches in Weimar (1708-17) and Leipzig (1724-50), clearly demonstrates his strong Lutheran faith. However, until relatively recently, Bach’s instrumental works have been considered devoid of religious inspiration, especially those published during his time at the Calvinist court of Prince Leopold in Cöthen (1717-23). With the discovery of Bach’s personal Bible and other Lutheran theological texts that contained annotations underscoring the role of music in bringing glory and praise to God, some contemporary scholars have pushed against the notion of Bach’s instrumental works being purely secular. For example, …