Other Music Commons^™

Shame On You, Cultural Appropriation! Rethinking Dvořák’S ‘Gypsy Songs, Op. 55, Ana Molano

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) at UNI

This paper investigates the portrayal of Romani, “gypsy,” people in Western music, with Antonín Dvořák’s song cycle “Gypsy Songs, Op. 55” as a central case study. It explores the view of cultural appropriation as cultural borrowing, examining how this concept intersects with musical exoticism and orientalism, and how these musical traits shaped Dvořák’s portrayal of Bohemian Romani culture. Drawing on historical and socio-musical methodologies, the study analyzes the Bohemian Romani and Hungarian influences in Dvořák’s cycle. It discusses the ecological impact of the Gypsy Songs within its cultural environment and implications for performance reception. By situating Dvořák’s work within broader …

Perspectives On Music Within The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Community, Anna Hanbeck

Graduate Research Papers

This study investigates how Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) individuals perceive and experience music. Through a survey with DHH participants, the research explores alternative modes of musical perception, including vibration, visual cues, and emotional response. Findings reveal that many DHH individuals actively engage with music through multisensory strategies, challenging the understanding of music as primarily a hearing-based experience. The results highlight the importance of inclusive musical practices and technologies that provide diverse sensory experiences. Music is an experience that can be sought through different means. This research contributes to a broader understanding of accessibility in the arts and underscores …

Crafting A Traveling Icon: The Role Of Mobile Carillons In Honoring Tradition, Emily S. Clouser

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the role of mobile carillons in honoring the traditions of carillonneurs and universities alike. I will first discuss the history of carillons and the tradition of carillonneurs, as well as the possible impacts of exposing the technical skill required to play such a public instrument that yet uniquely isolates the performer. I will then explain the various roles that mobile carillons have served and their gradual development over the years. The purpose of mobile carillons fluctuated, first beginning as a sales tactic, then a concert instrument—which eventually became a science experiment—a home …

A Study Of Johann Sebastian Bach’S Toccata In E Minor, Bwv 914; Ludwig Van Beethoven’S Piano Sonata Op. 10, No. 3 In D Major; Claude Debussy’S Pour Le Piano L. 95; And Frederic Chopin’S Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23, Hanna Stolper

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This paper discusses a work of four different composers, two from the 1700s and two from the 1800s. Each piece has a brief summary of the historical context of the piece and analyzes each movement of the pieces.

Traditional Media Marketing And The Panther Marching Band, Adam James Herzog

Honors Program Theses

The Panther Marching Band is the largest student organization on campus and is an outward symbol of the University of Northern Iowa. The Panther Marching Band (PMB) recruits new students to participate throughout the year. Recruitment is necessary tool for the PMB to maintain student participation and encourage growth. This creative thesis entails the research, strategy, design, and revision of printed promotional materials for the Panther Marching Band. A successful promotional identity must address the target audience it wishes to reach and encourage interaction. Promotional handouts are an effective way to present information in a clear, succinct manner.I chose to …

"This Is How We Play Destroy": Deconstruction And The Construction Of A Cyborg Future In Poppy's Am I A Girl?, Stevie Eve Sanchez

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Internet sensation and pop music star Poppy’s 2018 sophomore album Am I a Girl? stands out in an increasingly oversaturated pop landscape, thanks to evocative imagery, cleverly ambiguous lyrics, and daring genre crossovers that challenge conventions of contemporarypop music. Despite the album’s titular question, Poppy is not interested in being defined—instead, she seeks to transcend definition and exist in the space of questioning.On the album, Poppy explores concepts like gender, class, and consciousness in a way that pushes the boundaries of pop, deconstructing her genre, while also deconstructing the issues she sings about—and offering a vision for a future that …

Analysis Of Vibrational Modes Of Chemically Modified Tone Wood, Madison Flesch

Honors Program Theses

It is generally accepted that every violin has different tone quality in terms of intonation and the depth of the harmonics produced. The best violins are made by experienced luthiers that craft each with precision to produce the best possible tonal quality. The quality of the finished violin is dependent upon both the specific shape and the vibrational response of the wood used in its construction. Because the hard wood used in violin construction is inhomogeneous, the composition and structure of material used is critical to the final product.¹ Luthiers would initially rely on their experience to feel the …

Bridging The Social Media Value Gap Between Fans And Artists, Andrew Teeter

Honors Program Theses

Social media is commonly considered a powerful tool for engaging customers and audiences, but that is only true if social media is done in a proper context. If social media is not executed in that context it may deliver sub-par value to fans, leading to lower financial returns. The purpose of this research is to find that context and determine how musical artists can best bridge the gap between themselves and their fans in the social media heavy 21st century. The goal is to find what expectations fans have for the artists they follow on social media and how the …

Graduate Recital In Choral Conducting, Alice Reid Pruisner

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Alice Reid Pruisner presented her graduate recital in choral conducting in four parts. The first section, presented on September 20, 2013, was J.S. Bach’s sacred cantata BWV 84, Ich bin vergnügt mit meinem Glücke, performed by UNI’s Cantorei and members of the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra. The featured soprano soloists were Michelle Joy Monroe and Lara Wasserman. The second section, presented on October 24, 2013, included selections from Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, performed by UNI’s Women’s Chorus and members of the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra. The Varsity Men’s Glee Club, accompanied by Jessica Schick, also performed a set of …

Influences Of Armenian Folk Music On Clarinet Chamber Works By Aram Khachaturian And Alexander Arutiunian, Emma Peterson

Honors Program Theses

Armenia has a rich cultural and musical history. The Armenian folk music tradition, developed over many centuries, is of great national significance to the Armenian people. Among other instruments, the clarinet has enjoyed a prominent place in the folk music tradition of Armenia. This project discusses the Armenian folk music elements in the clarinet chamber works Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano by Aram Khachaturian and Suite for Clarinet, Violin and Piano by Alexander Arutiunian. There are three sections of research: the study of Armenian folk music, the study of folk elements in the pieces by Khachaturian and Arutiunian, and …

A Musical Analysis Of Selections From Contemporary Christian Music Contributing To An Original Composition, Ashley Elizabeth Williamson

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to find musical trends that exist within popular Contemporary Christian Music, and to compose an original song reflecting those musical trends. After reviewing the literature on the subject of Contemporary Christian Music, it was clear that there has not been a lot of research done concerning the musical analysis of this style. Recently however, there have been two studies related to CCM or music analysis, including a dissertation that specifically studied the lyrical perspective of CCM, and an online musical analysis of Billboard's top 100 (Yago, 2011; Carlton, 2012). This thesis served to combine …

From Here To There: The Music's Journey: How The Music In The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy Represents The Cultures Of Tolkien's World, Jennifer Louise Titus

Honors Program Theses

The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien is one of the most beloved stories of all time; it has been distributed around the world and translated into over fifty languages. The story that Tolkien created was, essentially, how a small group of people can change the course of history through bravery, loyalty, and friendship. It is a story that has touched many hearts over the years. This series of books also has one of the more developed fictional worlds in literature. There are a variety of cultures, which include elves, men, and dwarves. Tolkien not only gave each …

Timeline Of Creating The Original Performance Work, A Scotch Verdict, Cynthia Goatley, Rebecca Burkhardt

UNIversitas: Journal of Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

We first conceived the idea of writing a hybrid piece containing elements of opera and musical theatre in 1998. The musical, as we now call it, is based on Lillian Faderman’s Scotch Verdict, which revolves around the true story of Jane Pirie and Marianne Woods who ran a boarding school for girls in 1810 Edinburgh, Scotland. The accusation of one of their students, Jane Cumming, illegitimate grandchild of wealthy and powerful Dame Cumming Gordon, brought ruin upon the school and the schoolmistresses. Jane Cumming had accused the schoolmistresses of committing “unnatural acts” together. This tale told to Dame Gordon …

Quantz And Frederick The Great: Masters And Monarchs Of The Flute, Betsy Anne Groat

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the significant contributions that Quantz made as a flutist, composer, and pedagogue to the music world and in particular, to research the impact that Quantz had in the development of Frederick the Great as a virtuoso musician. The hope is to also illustrate the resulting significance of Frederick the Great as an important composer and flutist. This thesis is also intended to establish a case for the enduring significance of Frederick the Great and Quantz as significant flutists and composers and to encourage the acceptance of their compositions in the generally performed …

Making A Way: Music In An African American Congregation, Emily Miller-Todd

Honors Program Theses

When I began brainstorming ideas for my research, I was initially drawn towards a general study of music's role in church settings. As a music major and religion minor, this topic appeared to be the most obvious way I could combine my interests and apply them to a research project. Broadly speaking, I was interested in describing the role of music in a worship setting and the meaning members of the congregation found in music. In addition, I wanted to develop a research project that allowed me a more thoroughly experiential understanding of music in a congregation through personal participation …

Heinrich Baermann: The Clarinetist And Inspiration, Alisa Nagel

Honors Program Theses

When composing music, inspiration can be drawn from many sources. Some composers find inspiration in the works of other composers, some draw on innovations of the technical aspects of instruments, and some find a muse. Heinrich Baermann became the muse for composers Carl Maria von Weber and Felix Mendelssohn. Each composer wrote several pieces for Baermann, and worked with him personally. It is clear that Heinrich Baermann was a virtuoso clarinetist who helped define an era of clarinet playing, but his direct influence on the aforementioned composers has rarely been analyzed. Developing a greater understanding of this influence is important …

The Bass Clarinet: Its History And Role In The Symphony Orchestra, Katlin Macbride

Honors Program Theses

This thesis is a three-sectioned guide to the bass clarinet to be used by players starting out their orchestral careers. Research was done to provide insight for the orchestral bass clarinetist about auditions and compositions that have an important bass clarinet part.

The first section focuses on the origins of the bass clarinet. In this section, the reader will learn why it was invented, the difficulties inventors had in creating it, and the first compositions for this instrument. Knowing the structural history of the bass clarinet gives the performer knowledge of the bass clarinets available when a piece was written, …

Differences In Depression Levels Among Tenors, Baritones, And Basses, Rhiannon Jane Talbot

Honors Program Theses

Music and speech are closely related to one another. Both have specific elements, such as average fundamental frequency, pitch variation, and speed, to accurately communicate emotion. Some emotions have characteristic speech patterns; in the case of sadness, a low mean fundamental frequency, slow speed of speech, and minimal pitch variation are common. Both music and speech also utilize physical metaphors (up/down, high/low, etc.) to express positivity and negativity. The study was intended to determine whether male vocal register correlated with levels of depressive symptoms. Specifically, tenors were expected to have lower levels of depression than baritones and basses. Participants (16 …

Leading Unconducted Chamber Vocal Ensembles: A Case Study Of The University Of Northern Iowa Varsity Men's Glee Club Camerata, David Hoobler

Honors Program Theses

Recently, unconducted chamber vocal ensembles have emerged as one of, if not the most popular forms of vocal performing groups. TV shows such as "The Sing Off' and "Glee" showcase the musical abilities of this type of ensemble. Barbershop quartets enjoy high levels of popularity. Professional groups such as Voces8 and other groups on many college campuses are constantly in demand for performances. In addition, educators find it necessary to learn how to lead these groups especially in the state of Iowa where quartets are used for All-State auditions, and the popularity of Show Choir necessitates an unconducted vocal ensemble …

A Collection Of Original Music, Kelsey Staudacher

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

A Collection Of Original Music, Hanna Van Hemert

Honors Program Theses

The thesis project, 'A Collection of Original Music', is a creative/performative project comprised of composing, rehearsing, performing, recording, and notating original music. Designed to be completed as a collaboration between two musicians, Kelsey and I worked together during each of the tasks of the project. Consisting of four original pieces for piano/voice, and ukulele/voice, the compositions were performed at a live concert/thesis presentation, recorded at a later date, and transcribed for posterity.

A Study Of Harmony And Form In J. S. Bach's Sonata In G Minor For Solo Violin Bwv 1001, Rebecca Leigh Homard

Honors Program Theses

My thesis project combines a traditional research subject with a creative element. My desired project was to create a study accompaniment for the Sonata in G minor by J. S. Bach (see Appendix 1 ), with the written research portion providing the justification for the creation of that accompaniment. I chose this project for several reasons. J. S. Bach is a favorite composer of mine, and I love playing his works on both the violin and the viola. Partially because of my love for his music, I feel like I am on my way to having a fairly firm understanding …

"Why Can't The English" . . . Learn To Get Along?: Musical Reinforcement Of Negative Personal Characteristics In My Fair Lady, Gretchen Hundling

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Although the matter of adaptation is a delicate one, a majority of Shaw's original work is retained in My Fair Lady--over half of the show is the original Pygmalion script (Lerner Street 23). With the exception of the altered ending, almost all of Shaw's poke at English society is intact. But in this case, the songs of the musical serve an even greater function than just relaying what is on the characters' minds when the orchestra starts to play. The characters of this show are sometimes lovable, yet often detestable, for a great deal of their negative issues and …