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My approach to performing contemporary music, like many others, is centeredaround storytelling that merges the intention of the composer with my own interpretation. The balance between the two is unique for every work, as well as the sources of inspiration that shape each interpretation. In some cases, it works well

My approach to performing contemporary music, like many others, is centeredaround storytelling that merges the intention of the composer with my own interpretation. The balance between the two is unique for every work, as well as the sources of inspiration that shape each interpretation. In some cases, it works well to rely heavily on the historical context of the piece and the specific inspiration and process of the composer. In other cases, the composer desires more freedom and flexibility in the performance of their work, and the story of the piece is woven from the threads of personal stories, emotions, and imagery of the performer. For this project, I made audio recordings of three pieces including Seare Farhat’s Three Children’s Songs for Singing Percussionist, Keiko Abe’s Marimba d’Amore, and Thomas Kotcheffs Obbligato Snare Drum Music No. 1: The Power of Love. I then used these recordings to make music videos that blend elements of pop music videos and classical performance videos, using performance footage as well as narrative and abstract visuals to experiment with video making as a creative outlet while building a performance portfolio that represents me as an artist. In addition to a reflection of my process, this document is also designed as a resource for performers who are interested in learning how to make their own audio and video recordings, covering topics including project planning and preparation, working with collaborators, selecting gear, practicing for studio recordings, and designing and producing videos.
ContributorsSutherland, Morgan Brooke (Author) / Compitello, Michael (Thesis advisor) / Feisst, Sabine (Committee member) / Bolanos, Gabriel (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2024
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Description
Since its inception, the American Broadway industry has flourished and grown to include numerous vocal styles and techniques. The early twenty-first century has seen a rapid increase in demand for collegiate courses and instructors pertaining to music theater. It has therefore become necessary for voice instructors to be equally comfortable

Since its inception, the American Broadway industry has flourished and grown to include numerous vocal styles and techniques. The early twenty-first century has seen a rapid increase in demand for collegiate courses and instructors pertaining to music theater. It has therefore become necessary for voice instructors to be equally comfortable teaching both music theater and classical techniques such as bel canto. This document serves as a resource for instructors seeking more information on defining and teaching vocal styles in music theater including legit, mix, and belt. The first two chapters address the following three questions: 1) What is bel canto and how does the technique function? 2) What is music theater as a vocal style and how do colloquial terms such as legit, mix and belt function within music theater? 3) Are the technical ideas behind bel canto and music theater really that different? The third chapter offers a curriculum for a semester-long course (a hybrid between a song literature class and a performance-based seminar) called Singing Music Theater Styles: From Hammerstein to Hamilton. This course shows the rich development tracing techniques of bel canto through techniques used in contemporary music theater. This document concludes with an annotated bibliography of major sources useful to both the instructors wishing to teach this course and the performers looking to expand their knowledge of singing music theater.
ContributorsBruton, Sara (Author) / Weiss, Stephanie (Thesis advisor) / Feisst, Sabine (Thesis advisor) / Dreyfoos, Dale (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2018
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Description
ABSTRACT

Torse III (1965) by Akira Miyoshi, Two Movements for Marimba (1965) by

Toshimistu Tanaka, and Time for Marimba (1968) by Minoru Miki have remained “tour de force” pieces in the marimba repertoire since their inception nearly fifty years ago, yet they continue to present significant performance and interpretative issues to each

ABSTRACT

Torse III (1965) by Akira Miyoshi, Two Movements for Marimba (1965) by

Toshimistu Tanaka, and Time for Marimba (1968) by Minoru Miki have remained “tour de force” pieces in the marimba repertoire since their inception nearly fifty years ago, yet they continue to present significant performance and interpretative issues to each new generation of marimbists. This document will serve as both a performance guide for advanced marimba performers, as well as provide insight into the aesthetic qualities that contribute to their lasting artistic significance.

Each piece will receive a designated chapter discussing the historical context, technical challenges, and general performance practices. The author will also present a designated chapter discussing the three over-arching aesthetic characteristics found in all three pieces: the use of the entire range of the instrument, the use of extreme contrasting dynamics and timbre, and the use of a common harmonic language.

Torse III, Two Movements, and Time were famously performed by Keiko Abe on her first classical marimba recital in 1968. This document will also help bring to light the enormous impact this recital had on the history of the marimba, as marimbists throughout the world today are forever indebted to Abe’s efforts.
ContributorsHolm, Matthew Douglas (Author) / Smith, Jeffrey B. (Thesis advisor) / Feisst, Sabine (Committee member) / DeMars, James (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016
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Description
Voicing, as it pertains to saxophone pedagogy, presents certain obstacles to both teachers and students simply because we cannot visually assess the internal mechanics of the vocal tract. The teacher is then left to instruct based on subjective “feel” which can lead to conflicting instruction, and in some cases, misinformation.

Voicing, as it pertains to saxophone pedagogy, presents certain obstacles to both teachers and students simply because we cannot visually assess the internal mechanics of the vocal tract. The teacher is then left to instruct based on subjective “feel” which can lead to conflicting instruction, and in some cases, misinformation. In an effort to expand the understanding and pedagogical resources available, ten subjects—comprised of graduate-level and professional-level saxophonists—performed varied pitch bend tasks while their tongue motion was imaged ultrasonographically and recorded. Tongue range of motion was measured from midsagittal tongue contours extracted from the ultrasound data using a superimposed polar grid. The results indicate variations in how saxophonists shape their tongues in order to produce pitch bends from F6.
ContributorsLemoine, Ryan Cole (Author) / Gardner, Joshua T (Thesis advisor) / Creviston, Christopher (Thesis advisor) / Feisst, Sabine (Committee member) / Spring, Robert (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016
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Description
To be a versatile violinist, one needs interdependence of aural, visual and kinesthetic skills. This thesis introduces aural, visual and kinesthetic learning modalities, and explores the way each is used in the Suzuki, Paul Rolland, Orff, Kodály, and Dalcroze methods, as well as in Edwin Gordon’s Musical Learning Theory. Other

To be a versatile violinist, one needs interdependence of aural, visual and kinesthetic skills. This thesis introduces aural, visual and kinesthetic learning modalities, and explores the way each is used in the Suzuki, Paul Rolland, Orff, Kodály, and Dalcroze methods, as well as in Edwin Gordon’s Musical Learning Theory. Other methods and pedagogical approaches were consulted and influential in developing the curriculum, such as the teaching of Mimi Zweig, but were not included in this paper either because of an overlap with other methods or insufficient comparable material. This paper additionally presents a new curriculum for teaching beginning violin that incorporates aural, visual, and kinesthetic learning in a systematic and comprehensive manner. It also details a sequenced progression to learn new repertoire and develop proficiency with rhythm, solfège, reading and writing musical notation, and left- and right-hand technique.
ContributorsTang, Tee Tong (Author) / Swartz, Jonathan (Thesis advisor) / Schmidt, Margaret (Committee member) / Feisst, Sabine (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017
Description
Ernest Bloch’s Suites for Solo Cello (B. 93, 94, 97) contain a melodic-harmonic language unlike any other twentieth-century unaccompanied work, and when transcribed for viola, become meaningful additions to the existing viola repertoire. Each movement within these three works has its own distinct dancelike character, much like J.S. Bach’s Suites

Ernest Bloch’s Suites for Solo Cello (B. 93, 94, 97) contain a melodic-harmonic language unlike any other twentieth-century unaccompanied work, and when transcribed for viola, become meaningful additions to the existing viola repertoire. Each movement within these three works has its own distinct dancelike character, much like J.S. Bach’s Suites for Solo Cello (BWV 1007-1012). The melodies contain a persistent lyrical quality, and the harmonies are modal and reminiscent of folk music. Rather than compose an appropriate ending to Bloch’s incomplete Suite for Solo Viola (B. 101), a transcription of Bloch’s Suites for Solo Cello provides violists with more variety and opportunity for musicianship. These works present technical challenges such as rapid string crossings, sudden and vast register changes, complex rhythms and meter, and offer interpretationally rich passages. The level of these difficulties can prepare violists for more challenging twentieth-century works; thus, transcribing the Bloch Suites provides an opportunity to bridge a pedagogical divide in solo viola repertoire.
This project includes the transcriptions of Bloch’s Suites for Solo Cello, a performance edition, and a recording. Included is an overview of why these works are suitable for the viola, how these arrangements help fill a pedagogical gap in the unaccompanied viola repertoire, and insight into the transcription process. The performance recording captures the accessibility of these works for violists wishing to perform them and shows the integrity and variety of each piece by programming them all on a single recital.
ContributorsHankins, Kimberly Michelle (Author) / Buck, Nancy (Thesis advisor) / Feisst, Sabine (Committee member) / Landschoot, Tom (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2020