ETDs

This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.

In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.

Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at gradformat@asu.edu.

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A performer's guide to John Harbison's 'Four songs of solitude'

Description
John Harbison is one of the most prominent composers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. He has made major contributions in all areas of classical music, including operas, symphonies, chamber music, choral works, and vocal pieces.Among his vast output is 'Four Songs of Solitude,' his only composition (to date) for…

John Harbison is one of the most prominent composers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. He has made major contributions in all areas of classical music, including operas, symphonies, chamber music, choral works, and vocal pieces.Among his vast output is 'Four Songs of Solitude,' his only composition (to date) for solo violin. Though the piece is beautiful and reflective in nature, its inherent technical and musical difficulties present challenges to violinists preparing the piece. There is no published edition of 'Four Songs of Solitude' that includes bowings and fingerings, and violinists used to practicing and performing the études and repertoire of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries may have difficulty determining how to successfully navigate the music. This paper examines the piece in detail, providing an analytic description of the music and suggestions for practice. An interview with the composer yielded many insights into the structural and harmonic events of the songs, and the composer's interpretive suggestions are given alongside technical suggestions by the author. The solo violin has a centuries-long legacy, and some of the most performed repertoire exists in the medium. 'Four Songs of Solitude' is a demanding set of pieces that stands out in late twentieth-century violin music. Providing information about the piece directly from the composer and suggestions for practice and performance increases the accessibility of the work for violinists seeking to bring it to the concert stage.
ContributorsSchreffler, Sarah (Author) / McLin, Katherine (Thesis advisor) / Hill, Gary (Committee member) / Holbrook, Amy (Committee member) / Spring, Robert (Committee member) / Swartz, Jonathan (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012

Jody Rockmaker's Character Pieces for Viola and Piano (2014): A Study and Recording

Description
This document is a study of Jody Rockmaker’s Character Pieces for viola and piano (2014). The study begins with discussion of the work’s origin, then goes on to describe each of its three movements in some detail. A recording of the work with the author as violist is included.

The…

This document is a study of Jody Rockmaker’s Character Pieces for viola and piano (2014). The study begins with discussion of the work’s origin, then goes on to describe each of its three movements in some detail. A recording of the work with the author as violist is included.

The composer is a former violist and worked with the author on developing Character Pieces. Although the work is demanding, it was written with consideration of viola technique and the instrument’s characteristics and sound.

The composition is of approximately 15 minutes’ duration. Each movement is in a different tempo, fast-slow-fast, and with individual expression, though the pitch organization of all three movements is based on one hexachordal set. Rockmaker’s intent was to depict certain personality traits often found among violists. These attributes are evident in the titles of the movements: the Class Clown, the Mellow Fellow, and the Hipster-Intellect. The music, in addition to being intricately organized and technically suited to both instruments, also expressively portrays these character types.
ContributorsYoon, Hyun Sun (Author) / Buck, Nancy (Thesis advisor) / Holbrook, Amy (Committee member) / Swartz, Jonathan (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2019