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- All Subjects: Music
- Creators: Micklich, Albie
Description
The integration of yoga into the music curriculum has the potential of offering many immediate and life-long benefits to musicians. Yoga can help address issues such as performance anxiety and musculoskeletal problems, and enhance focus and awareness during musical practice and performance. Although the philosophy of yoga has many similarities to the process of learning a musical instrument, the benefits of yoga for musicians is a topic that has gained attention only recently. This document explores several ways in which the practice and philosophy of yoga can be fused with saxophone pedagogy as one way to prepare students for a healthy and successful musical career. A six-week study at Arizona State University was conducted to observe the effects of regular yoga practice on collegiate saxophone students. Nine participants attended a sixty-minute "yoga for musicians" class twice a week. Measures included pre- and post- study questionnaires as well as personal journals kept throughout the duration of the study. These self-reported results showed that yoga had positive effects on saxophone playing. It significantly increased physical comfort and positive thinking, and improved awareness of habitual patterns and breath control. Student participants responded positively to the idea of integrating such a course into the music curriculum. The integration of yoga and saxophone by qualified professionals could also be a natural part of studio class and individual instruction. Carrie Koffman, professor of saxophone at The Hartt School, University of Hartford, has established one strong model for the combination of these disciplines. Her methods and philosophy, together with the basics of Western-style hatha yoga, clinical reports on performance injuries, and qualitative data from the ASU study are explored. These inquiries form the foundation of a new model for integrating yoga practice regularly into the saxophone studio.
ContributorsAdams, Allison Dromgold (Author) / Norton, Kay (Thesis advisor) / Hill, Gary (Committee member) / McAllister, Timothy (Committee member) / Micklich, Albie (Committee member) / Standley, Eileen (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
Description
The German pianist and composer Johannes Brahms (1883-1897) wrote more than 122 works for a wide variety of ensembles and genres. Despite this remarkable productivity, and his widely heralded talent for innovation and technique as a composer, few of his works have been arranged for solo guitar, and these have focused primarily on his simpler, more melodic works. Conventional wisdom is that his music is "too dense" to be played on the guitar. As a result, there are no arrangements of orchestral works by Brahms in the standard repertoire for the guitar. In arranging Brahms's Serenade in D Major, movt. 1 for the guitar, I provide a counter argument that not all of Brahms's orchestral music is too dense all of the time. In Part I, I provide a brief overview of the history of, and sources for, the Serenade. Part II describes a step-by-step guide through the process of arranging orchestral repertoire for the solo guitar. Part III is an examination of the editing process that utilizes examples from the guitar arrangement of the Serenade in order to illustrate the various techniques and considerations that are part of the editing process. Part IV is a performance edition of the arrangement. In summary, the present arrangement of Brahms's Serenade, op.11 is the beginning of a conversation about why the "guitar world" should be incorporating the music of Brahms into the standard repertoire. The lessons learned, and the technical challenges discovered, should help inform future arrangers and guitar performers for additional compositions by Brahms.
ContributorsLanier, William Hudson (Author) / Koonce, Frank (Thesis advisor) / Micklich, Albie (Committee member) / Rockmaker, Jody (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2013
Description
New works for the bass clarinet as a solo instrument are uncommon. In the interest of expanding the repertoire of the bass clarinet, three new works for bass clarinet were commissioned from three different composers, all with different instrumentations. The resulting works are Industrial Strength for bass clarinet and piano by Kenji Bunch; Dark Embers for two bass clarinets by Theresa Martin; and Shovelhead for bass clarinet and interactive electronics by Steven Snowden. Although all three works feature the bass clarinet, they are all very different and pose unique challenges to the performer. To accompany these pieces, and as an aid to future performers, a performance practice guide has been included with recommendations for individuals who wish to perform these works. Included in the guide are recommended fingerings, practice techniques, and possible adjustments to the bass clarinet parts designed in collaboration with the composers that make the works more technically accessible. Accompanying this guide are full scores of all three works, a recording of them performed by the author, and a chart that contains recommended altissimo fingerings.
ContributorsMiracle, Matthew (Author) / Spring, Robert (Thesis advisor) / Gardner, Joshua (Committee member) / Holbrook, Amy (Committee member) / Micklich, Albie (Committee member) / Rogers, Rodney (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
Description
Throughout the history of Western art music, political and religious institutions have exerted powerful influence through their patronage and censorship. This is especially relevant to the organ, an elaborate and expensive instrument which has always depended on institutional support. The fascinating story of Polish organ culture, which has existed since the Middle Ages, reflects the dramatic changes in Polish politics throughout the centuries. An understanding of this country's history helps to construct a comprehensive view of how politics influenced the developments in organ building and organ playing. This paper describes the dynamics of the Church, government and art institutions in Poland during the years 1945-2012. A brief summary of the history of Polish organ culture sets the stage for the changes occurring after WWII. The constant struggle between the Church and the communist regime affected music making and organ culture in Poland from 1945-1989. The political détente that occurred after 1989 led to a flowering of new instruments, restorations and performance opportunities for organists. By exploring the relationship between Polish organ culture and prevailing agendas in the 20th century, the author demonstrates how a centuries-old tradition adapted to survive political and economic hardships.
ContributorsKubiaczyk-Adler, Ilona (Author) / Marshall, Kimberly (Thesis advisor) / Micklich, Albie (Committee member) / Rockmaker, Jody (Committee member) / Rogers, Rodney (Committee member) / Ryan, Russell (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
Description
This project describes the process of creating an arrangement of Gustav Holst's "Second Suite in F for Military Band," to include the oboe d'amore. The oboe d'amore is a member of the oboe family which is not often used in the modern day. Also included are a score, 5 individual parts, and a digital audio file of the arrangement.
ContributorsJones, Katherine (Author) / Schuring, Martin (Thesis director) / Micklich, Albie (Committee member) / School of Music, Dance and Theatre (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-12
Description
A common concern among musical performers in today'’s musical market pertains to their capacity to adapt to the constantly changing climate of the music business. This document focuses on one aspect of the development of a sustainable, entrepreneurship skill set: the production of a recording. While producing the recording Chocolates, the author examined and documented the multiplicity of skills encompassed with a recording project. The first part of the document includes a discussion of various aspects of the recording project, Chocolates, through an entrepreneurial lens, and an evaluation of the skill sets acquired through the recording process. Additionally, the inspiration and relevance behind the recording project and the process of collaboration between the two composers from whom I commissioned new compositions, Noah Taylor and James Grant, and myself is considered. Finally, I describe the recording and editing processes, including the planning involved within each process, how I achieved the final product, and the entrepreneurial skills involved. The second portion of this document examines a broad range of applications of entrepreneurship, marketing, and career management skills not only within the confines of this particular project, but also in relation to the overall sustainability of a twenty-–first century music-–performing career.
ContributorsStuckemeyer, Mary (Author) / Micklich, Albie (Thesis advisor) / Carpenter, Ellon (Committee member) / Hill, Gary (Committee member) / Schuring, Martin (Committee member) / Spring, Robert (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2013
Description
The versatility of the bassoon has always been a signature trait, noticeable both inthe diversity of canonic works conceived for the instrument and in transcriptions. While
Russian composer and pianist, Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953), is well-known for his
orchestral and piano compositions, outside from moments in his compositions for
orchestra, most woodwind musicians have been unable to experience his solo repertoire
and writing style. Prokofiev did not write any solo compositions for the bassoon. In fact,
his only solo work for woodwinds is his Sonata for Flute and Piano, Op. 94. The purpose
of this project is to transcribe Prokofiev’s Sonata for Flute and Piano, Op. 94 for bassoon
and piano as an addition to the bassoon solo literature. The project begins with an
historical overview of both composer and composition, then turns into a description of
the rationale and process of transcription, followed by the transcription for bassoon and
piano itself as well as a complete recording.
ContributorsJin, Leon (Author) / Micklich, Albie (Thesis advisor) / Schmelz, Peter (Committee member) / Gardner, Joshua (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022
Description
The purpose of this DMA project is to broaden the bassoon repertoire from Latin American composers with the commission and recording of a new work, Duasteño for bassoon and clarinet, by Arodi Martínez Serrano (Mexico) and to record the existing works Duasteco by Arodi Martínez Serrano, Argenta by Noelia Escalzo (Argentina), and Fagot Pukllay by Daniel Cueto (Peru). In order to provide a better understanding of these works and the composers, this document contains transcripts of interviews with each composer, including their styles, aesthetics, and backgrounds. The interviews with the composers are the primary sources for this document. Additionally, a performance guide is included providing recommendations to the bassoonists preparing these works. It is my hope that the recordings and performance guide included in this project can be a helpful resource for the bassoonist seeking to perform new works by Latin American composers.
ContributorsBonilla Aguilar, Alfredo (Author) / Micklich, Albie (Thesis advisor) / Gardner, Joshua (Committee member) / Navarro, Fernanda (Committee member) / Schuring, Martin (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2023
Description
During my career as an oboist I have only had the opportunity to play four piecesfor oboe by Peruvian composers. It was not until I started my doctoral degree that I found out how difficult it is for people, not only to find copies of these pieces, but also to find the pieces themselves. Due to this obstacle, it is time for a bibliography of Peruvian oboe music to exist. This document annotates a list of oboe (and English horn) music by Peruvian composers detailing 130 works, for solo oboe, as well as chamber works up to 8 players, by thirty composers. Each entry includes a brief biography of the composer, original title of the piece, composition date, instrumentation, publishers, commissions, dedications, and duration of the piece in minutes and seconds. Some entries also include miscellaneous notes on the piece. Incipits of each movement are included as well as the movement title and tempo markings. Works by composers born and educated in Peru who emigrated to other countries, or changed nationalities is included. This bibliography includes all the music found up to October, 2021.
ContributorsEspinoza Masias, Diego Angel (Author) / Schuring, Martin (Thesis advisor) / Micklich, Albie (Committee member) / Bolanos, Gabriel (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2021
Description
Repertoire for solo bassoon is becoming more common as music advances and evolves. There is a vast array of works for solo bassoon; however, only a small percentage of those are by composers from an underrepresented community, with an even smaller percentage written by composers with East Asian or Southeast Asian heritage. Furthermore, these works have little to no high-quality studio recordings. Additionally, these works often include contemporary techniques such as multiphonics, difficult tremolos, flutter tonguing, pitch bends, and glissandi, among others. This adds another layer of inaccessibility for those bassoonists who are unfamiliar with how to perform these techniques and therefore may be afraid to “take the plunge” into contemporary works that utilize them. I have created performance guides for Tilt by Tonia Ko, Legend of the Sea by Xinyan Li, and Jeu des Cinq Éléments II by Tôn-Thât Tiêt, in hopes of promoting and raising the accessibility of works by living composers with East Asian and Southeast Asian backgrounds.
ContributorsJohnson, Bradley Raymond (Author) / Micklich, Albie (Thesis advisor) / Gardner, Joshua (Committee member) / Temple, Alex (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2024