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The Accompanied Solo Song of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries
The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the changes and developments of the accompanied solo song throughout the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, including instrument usage and song types.
An Analysis and Comparison of Music Appreciation Books for the Junior High School and the High School
The purpose of this thesis is to analyze and compare a selection of books that can be used in the teaching of music appreciation in the junior high school and the high school.
An Analysis of Maurice Ravel's Technique of Orchestration
It is interesting to note that several of Ravel's compositions for the piano were successful only after he had orchestrated them. Ravel, a pianist, had a natural gift for orchestration, and when writing for the piano he seems to have projected his thoughts to the orchestra; thus some of his works are more successful' for the orchestra than for the piano. Since he orchestrated several of his own piano compositions, these present an excellent opportunity for a study of his orchestrations.
An Analysis of the Characteristics of Robert Schumann's Piano Works
The primary purpose of this thesis is to give the prospective performer of Schumann's piano works a better understanding of his many works for the piano and to give the pianist, and musicians in general, a better understanding of the pianistic devices employed by Schumann in his works for this instrument. Schumann rose to great heights for short intervals. He possessed enthusiasm, humor, charm, and eloquence. Such qualities have kept his music alive and have provided his listeners with lasting pleasure. Much of his music represents the nobility and warm-heartedness that characterized early Romanticism at its best.
An Analysis of the Works for Solo Trumpet by Alan Hovhaness
The purpose of this study is to determine the general style characteristics of the works for solo trumpet by Alan Hovhaness, viz., Khrimian Hairig, Overture to Avak, Prayer of Saint Gregory, and Haroutiun. The musical elements of form, melody, harmony, tonality, rhythm, texture, and counterpoint are examined objectively in order to determine the essential features of the music. Further consideration is given to the idiomatic use of the solo trumpet in these compositions. Each composition is examined separately, the conclusions and generalizations of the style features being reserved for the final chapter.
An Analysis of William Walton's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
The rhythmic analyses (derived from the rhythm tables of Chapter II) reveal: 1. Walton used rhythms sparingly. 2. Walton's rhythms constitute an evolutionary state of re-creation, i. e., Walton's rhythms are in empathy with each other. The harmonic analyses (derived from the harmonic fluctuation tables of Chapter II) reveal: 1. The most frequent chords of any classification occur in groups III and IV (chords of the highest tension). 2. The most frequent dissonant interval used is that of the major seventh.
The Analytical System of Hindemith and Schenker as Applied to Two Works of Arnold Schoenberg
This thesis uses two different musical analytical systems, one of Heinrich Schenker and one of Paul Hindemith, to analyze tonality within "Die Gurre Lieder" and "Fourth String Quartet" by Arnold Schoenberg.
The Anthems of William Byrd
The sacred anthem has had a unique conception and development that compares readily to that of other major forms of sacred music. Since an abundance of this music is used in our services, it is the purpose of this study to trace the history of the anthem from its origin in the early Tudor period to its culmination in the works of William Byrd. A special study will be made of the anthems by this master of the form.
An Appraisal of Six Series of Music Textbooks for Grades One, Two and Three
The education program in America began with the self-contained classroom and is today gradually moving back to that concept. It is believed that more attention can be given to the interests, needs, and abilities of the pupil if he is allowed to remain in his home room with his teacher throughout the school day. This is especially true in the primary grades. In many cases the primary teachers have only the minimum requirement by law of six hours credit in music.9 Furthermore, it is known that many primary teachers have little or no supervision from a music specialist. It is with these facts in view that this tabulation is needed for aid in the appraisal and selection of textbooks available for the teaching of music in grades one, two and three.
Bach's Treatment of the Chorale in the Chorale Cantatas
The Chorale Cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach are outstanding examples of his ingenuity. The existing data on the Chorale Cantatas are distributed throughout numerous volumes by many scholars. They have written much about the cantatas in general but not so much specifically about the chorales in them. In this thesis, the emphasis is on the chorales and Bach's treatment of them in the Chorale Cantatas. An historical approach to the cantata and the chorale is given as a preliminary to the treatment of the chorale in the chorale cantata. This was done that the reader might have a better understanding of them. The necessary material for this thesis was gathered from dictionaries, music lexicons, books, articles and the music principally in the Bach-gesellschaft edition. The material is organized according to the following plan: 1. The Church Cantata and its origin; the development of the Church Cantata in Germany; the use of the cantata in the worship service. 2. The Chorale, its origin and development; its changes as a result of the Reformation; its use in church services, and its use in musical composition. 3. Bach's treatment of the Chorale in musical forms. 4. Bach's treatment of the words of the Chorales in the Chorale Cantatas.
Beethoven's Choral Fugal Technique
It is the purpose of this thesis to offer some pertinent information in the form of a documentary symposium and analytical study in which historical and technical matters relative to Beethoven's fugal techniques in his choral compositions will be presented. References to specific musical examples in this composer's works will be illustrated by diagrammatic and verbal analyses, and correlated with the pagination of the scores of his complete works as published by Breitkopf and Hartel.
Beethoven's Piano Sonata Op. 111 in its Historical Perspective
This thesis presents a brief history of the sonata form until the time of Beethoven. It also discusses Beethoven's use of the sonata form, and how it applies to his op. 111 piano sonata.
The Characterstücke of Johannes Brahms
With the advent of the Ballades, Intermezzi, Cappriccios and Rhapsodies of Johannes Brahms the musical world was to witness the apex of a development of a particular style of pianoforte composition which began in the nineteenth century with the publication in 1803 of a group of seven pieces called Bagatelles, opus 33 by Ludwig van Beethoven. This style thus originated was the Caracterstücke.
Charles Ives and a Stylistic Analysis of his Three Piano Sonatas
This thesis has been written with several goals in mind. The first purpose has been to inform the reader about the life of Charles Ives and the influences he experienced that gave him the impetus to experiment and write music of a nature thirty years ahead of its time, while the rest of the world was basking in the waning light of Romanticism. The second purpose has been to describe in a short space general characteristics that may be found throughout the entire musical output of Ives. The third purpose has been to analyze in greater detail the major portion of his contributions to piano literature, the three piano sonatas, so that the student may better understand the complexities which will face him in performance of these compositions. Perhaps the strongest motivation for the present study has been the hope that it might induce more students to be explorers themselves and become familiar with this music of Ives.
The Clarinet in Chamber Music from Mozart through Brahms
It is the purpose of this thesis to present a study of the development of writing for the clarinet in chamber music during the period from Mozart (1756-1791) through Brahms (1833-1897). The first part is a brief history of the clarinet showing the stages of development of the instrument from its beginning to its present form and also surveys the field of chamber music in general, with special attention to the chamber music for the clarinet, and to the performers for whom many of these works were written.
The Clarinet in the Symphony Orchestra from Mozart to Rimsky-Korsakov
The purpose of this thesis is to show through the presentation and analysis of authoritative information, together with opinions drawn from the information and analyses, how the clarinet grew in its function as a member of the symphony orchestra.
A Comparative Study of Harmonic Tension in Hindemith's Piano Sonatas and in His Theoretical Writings
The purpose of this paper will be to compare the Hindemith theory of harmonic tension as set forth in his book, Craft of Musical Composition, with his actual use of harmonic tension in compositional practice. The compositions used for this study are Hindemith's Sonaten für Klavier, published in 1936, consisting of three sonatas*. Although these pieces were published one year before the theory book, it seems reasonable to assume that Hindemith was at least formulating the ideas that would go into his book, and quite possibly was already writing it. The copyright date of the book is 1937. Therefore, any conclusions derived from the following analysis will not be affected to any degree by the time lapse between the writing of the two works in question. Analysis of the Sonaten für Klavier by Paul Hindemith reveals the fact that each of the sonatas is very different from the other two; hence, conclusions which apply to all three works are not generally possible.
A Comparative Study of the Harmonic Equipment and Formal Features in the String Quartets by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel
This thesis proposes to determine the construction of the two string quartets and to reveal through the study of the quartets the similarities and contrasts of the creative musical characteristics of Debussy and Ravel.
A Comparative Study of Three Sonatas for Solo Brass Instruments and Piano by Paul Hindemith
In the years during the writing of The Craft of Musical Composition, and for the next few years afterwards, Hindemith was engaged in writing a solo sonata for each of the instruments of the orchestra. Muser states that this series of sonatas continues a definite policy of providing music for people who want to play music, and not merely to listen to it. The three sonatas for solo brass instruments and piano were written during this period. The sonatas, written for trumpet, horn, and trombone, were written in the following order: Sonata for Trumpet and Piano—1939; Sonata for Horn and Piano—1939; Sonata for Trombone and Piano—1941. These sonatas, being written rather closely together, should have certain stylistic characteristics in common, and there should also be certain features peculiar to each sonata. To study these sonatas and compare them with each other structurally and stylistically is the purpose of this work.
A Comparison of the Hindemith and Schenker Concepts of Tonality
The purpose of this thesis is to illustrate and compare, through a representative historical sampling of music, the concepts of tonality evolved by Paul Hindemith in his Craft of Musical Composition, Vol. I; and Heinrich Schenker in his Tonwille, MusijNkeael ische Theorien Fantasien, Das jeisterwerk in der Musik, and Per Freie Satz.5 When feasible, these two concepts will be compared with the conventional concept.
The Concert Arias of Mozart for the Bass and Tenor Voices
The concert arias of Mozart are probably among the least known works of this genius among composers, yet they represent no small part of his musical output and are scattered throughout every period of his life. He composed a total of fifty-seven in all, the first when he was only nine years old and the last one in the final year of his life. Mozart's fifty-seven concert arias are divided among the four voice groupings as follows: one for alto, eight for bass, ten for tenor and thirty-eight for soprano. Of these soprano arias one (K. 569)l is lost and two (K. 307 and K. 308) are merely ariettas on French texts. It is with the eighteen arias for normal male voice that this discussion will be primarily concerned; arias for the castrati voice will not be considered.
A Critical Study of Three Violoncello Suites by J.S. Bach
This thesis is a critical study of three violoncello suites of Johann 8ebastian Bach from the performer's point of view. Its purpose is to determine the comparative differences and similarities of several well known editions including the Bach Gesellschaft edition and the Pablo Casals recording. It will explain a few of the many discrepancies and provide adequate reasons for given suggestions and preferences concerning dynamics, tempi, ornamentation, bowing styles, and other elements of performance. By stating a brief historical background of the evolution of the violoncello and the development of musical form and style, it is possible to conceive Bach's ideas and intentions as he wrote the collection of six suites.
A Descriptive Analysis of the Preludes (Book 1) of Claude Debussy
The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twenty-four preludes written by Claude Debussy. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon Debussy and his compositions.
The Development of an Objective Approach to the Measurement and Improvement of Aural Discrimination in Music
The purpose of this experiment is therefore (1) to design a test to measure the skill of a heterogeneous group of college music students and (2) to administer and evaluate an aural training program which could be used to develop efficiently aural intelligence. The students used in this experiment were intentionally chosen with varying abilities in order to permit comparisons. A careful record was kept of their ages, musical experiences, major instruments (voice, piano, violin, and other orchestral instruments), amount of training, skill and technique, and theory grades.
The Development of Bands from the Baroque Period to the Present
The following chapters concern the development of bands of musical wind instruments in Europe and America. These groups may be most conveniently divided into two main classes of bands, military and civilian. Military bands may be defined as those organizations directly under governmental or army rule. This large class of bands includes: brigade bands, regimental bands, post bands and service bands. Brigade bands in early English history comprised two or more regimental bands, each regiment maintaining several bands. These groups were also popular in colonial America. In turn, each regiment of the military (army) had units of companies including troops, batteries, or cavalries. The units were authorized to maintain bands in their respective companies; fife and drum bands were also included. Certain bands of these companies were stationed permanently at military headquarters; these are referred to as post bands. In this country an increase in the number of regular army bands (infantry, cavalry, and artillery) has been marked since the latter part of the nineteenth century. These army bands and those of other branches (navy, marine corps, air force, coast guard, etc.) are included under the general name of service bands. The second main class includes a large group of civilian bands. As the name implies, the organizations are composed of civilians and are independent of the military groups. This class includes: circus bands, fraternal bands, industrial bands, organized militia bands, professional bands, school bands, and town or independent bands. The militia bands were bodies of citizens enrolled as military forces for a period of instruction; they were not called into active service except in an emergency. These other civilian, groups perform for civic functions, ceremonies, etc. History shows that the civilian bands have imitated the military bands in instrumentation and repertoire. It is quite apparent that the original army …
The Development of Baptist Hymnody with Particular Emphasis on the Southern Baptist Convention
This thesis undertakes a study of some of the historical origins and developments of the Southern Baptist Convention in relation to its music.
The Development of Modern Solo Trumpet Literature as Traced through the Morceaux de Concours at the Paris Conservatory
The purpose of this thesis is to give the reader an insight into the development of solo trumpet literature as well as to present historical information concerning the development of the trumpet and the effect it had on the literature written for that instrument. Only music originally written for trumpet will be considered as the many transcriptions of older music that now appears are not characteristic of the idiomatic writing for trumpet at that time.
The Development of the Piano Solo Concerto from Its Beginning to the Twentieth Century, with a List of Published Concertos
Every pianist at one time or another hopes to study and perform at least one piano concerto. In addition to the pleasure which will be derived from the study and performance, the student's musical growth will be greatly enhanced. In this survey and study of the general development of the piano solo concerto, the goal is to broaden the understanding of what the concerto is and what it means.
Dichterliebe by Robert Schumann
The purpose of this work, an analysis of the song cycle Dichterliebe (Op. 48) by Robert Schumann, is to recognize the special features of the songs which will contribute to their understanding and musical interpretation and performance. The Dichterliebe was chosen as the composition to be analyzed because of its prominent position in the vocal literature of the Romantic period.
A Digest of Published Opinions About the Teaching of Music Reading in the Elementary School
Throughout the history of public school music in the United States, one of the problems which has continually been in the foreground is that of music reading, It is primarily a problem for the elementary school as that is the place where reading must begin in order for the children's interest and ability to be balanced. The elementary school is the focal point for the teaching of all skills and tools in learning. Certainly, reading is one of the major tools in the process of musical learning. In many cases the ability of the students to read music has been the basic criterion of the entire music program. Davison states that the aim and end of a large percentage of instruction has for so long been to train students to sing music at sight that it has grown to be a fetish. While such a standard as that is an over-emphasis of reading, most music educators will agree that the place of music reading in the elementary school is of utmost importance. The differences of opinions lie not so much in the goals to be reached as in the methods of reaching them. The purpose of this study is not to weigh these various methods as to their usefulness. It is rather to survey as many publications as possible concerning the teaching of music reading in the elementary school and to make a digest of the opinions found in them. In agreement with Mursell's statement that anything can be taught effectively in a considerable number of ways,2 it is the writer's belief that there is no one best method for teaching music reading. The desired outcome of this study is to present an adequate digest of the material published about various methods in order that these lines of thought may …
The Earliest Operas of Giuseppe Verdi with Emphasis Upon Ernani
This thesis provides a brief history of opera as well as analysis of the operas of Giuseppe Verdi.
The Early Piano Sonatas of Prokofiev
The purpose of this thesis is to give a descriptive look at modern Russian music, specifically the early piano sonatas of Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, with focus on style and style influences.
Evolution of the Scherzo Through Beethoven
It would be impossible to trace the evolution of the form of the scherzo without treating also to some extent the history of the minuet, as the scherzo would hardly have come into being in the way it did had there not been the minuet, even though as the scherzo grew to maturity it resembled less and less its parent-form. This thesis examines the early use and origin of the scherzo, and its use and evolution in the works of Beethoven.
The Evolution of Violin Technique from Monteverdi to Paganini
The purpose of this thesis is to show through the presentation and analysis of authoritative information, and opinions drawn from the information and analysis, the development of violin technique from its basic rudiments as an accompanying instrument to the plane of a brilliant solo instrument, a position it still maintains today. This thesis aims to deal exclusively with the technical evolution of the violin. Many books on the history of the violin have been written, but none have dealt exclusively with the technical evolution of this instrument, and it is hoped that the materials in this thesis will constitute a contribution to this field.
The French Ballet De Cour and Its Predecessors, 1400-1650
A study of the historical development of the origins of ballet in Italy and France during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Specifically focuses on the ballet-comique de la reine and the ballet de cour.
Gustav Holst as a Choral Composer: His Life, Factors Influencing His Compositions, His Place in English Music, and a Consideration of the Principal Stylistic Elements of His Choral Music
"An amiable personality, not himself an unusually passionate man, HoIst has excited more violent passions than any other contemporary English composer. How difficult he is to assess as a creative artist is perhaps indicated by the extraordinary fluctuations in his reputation." For a number of years he was completely unknown and ignored, living a quiet and unhurried life as an obscure teacher. Then with a momentary flash, after outstanding works such as "The Planets," and the "Ode to Death," he was caught up in a wave of public approval that made him, for a time, the recipient of national and even international honors. He was awarded the gold medal by the Royal Philharmonic Society, was made a Fellow of the Royal Col.ege of Music, and was offered honorary degrees by American universities.
Harmony in the Symphonies of Ralph Vaughan Williams
The harmony of Vaughan Williams defies classification in terms of traditional harmony alone, making use as it does at times, of structures of superposed fourths, so-called "added-note" chords, and random sonorities, as will appear. Therefore, the chords will be placed into two principal categories of usage, traditional and non-traditional.
Hebrew Origins and Vocal Practice of Music in the Early Christian Church to 500 A.D.
This study aims to show all known knowledge of singing in the earliest days of the biblical New Testament. The practices of the early Christian church in respect to singing are traced during the period directly following that covered by the New Testament and carried forward to around the year 500 A.D. The study aims to learn, insofar as available sources permit, all that we may know today of singing in the earliest days of the New Testament Church. Both Old and New Testaments will be searched for all references to song, and particular attention will be directed to the meaning of St. Paul's reference to "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" in an effort to determine the meaning of these three items.
Heinrich Schütz
This work is a study of the historical and social background, the life and the compositions of Heinrich Schutz.
The High School A Cappella Choir: Organization, Techniques, and Program
It is the hope and belief of the writer that this thesis will make available in concise form much information which the ambitious director of a high school a cappella choir would be unable to obtain without expending considerable time and energy.
An Historical and Technical Analysis of the Mozart Horn Concerti
This thesis presents an historical and technical analysis of the Mozart horn concerti.
A History of the Bass Tuba and Its Use in the Symphony Orchestra
This study has been prepared for the purpose of showing the development of the modern bass tuba through all stages, from its earliest ancestors to its present form. Also by the use of examples, it is hoped that the treatment of the instrument in selected orchestral works will show in some ways how it has and can be used.
A History of the Music and Composers for the Brass Ensemble Medium Before the Nineteenth Century
The purpose of this thesis is to bring to light some of the music written for, or especially adaptable to, brass ensembles before the close of the eighteenth century. This study must concern itself with the music which has been preserved and is available, and with such music as can be played on modern instruments. It must be stated that some of the music mentioned herein was not written specifically for brass instruments, but the style and general character of the music make it adaptable for a brass instrumentation.
A History of the Oboe from Antiquity to 1750
The purpose of this study is to trace the development of the oboe and its use from the primitive double reed instruments to the oboes of the Baroque Period. Toward the end of this period the oboe became thoroughly established as an important section in the symphony orchestra and has remained so to the present time.
The History of the Trombone from the Renaissance to the Early Romantic Period
The purpose of this thesis is to show the development of the trombone, in form and music, and its use in the orchestra through the times of Beethoven and Schubert. Since very little material has been presented concerning the history of the trombone, it is hoped that the illustrations and explanations contained herein will be a contribution toward a representation of music from different composers and periods. The music covered gives a picture of the use of the trombone from the Renaissance through to the beginning of the Romantic Period. The results of this study are presented in three main sections: (1) The history of the trombone in the Renaissance; (2) The history of the trombone in the Baroque; (3) The history of the trombone in the Classical Period, and up to the time of Schubert.
The Influence of Motion Picture Techniques on the Status and Character of Music Designed to Accompany Dramatic Forms
Our modern motion picture composers are limited by the necessity of fitting musical impulses to action. The timing is a matter of split-second synchronization. The writers have no classical form to follow as each script requires highly individualistic treatment, highly restricted time elements, and highly technical instrumentation. Therefore, every composition is a challenge. The challenge includes not only the time element but a demand for a greater amount of originality in musical line and mood setting.
An Interpretive and Compositional Analysis of the Songs of Yrjö Kilpinen to Poems by Christian Morgenstern
This study examines the the songs of Yrjö Kilpinen and their use in the poems of Christian Morgenstern.
The Italienisches Liederbuch of Hugo Wolf
This study was undertaken with the purpose of affording some insight into the musical aims and composing methods of Hugo Wolf and of showing his position in the history of the German Lied and his contributions to the development of this form through the analysis of one part of his work. This study of the history of the Lied and examination of the Italienisehes Liederbuch of Hugo Wolf has led to certain conclusions. The first is that Wolf truly stands as the culmination of Romantic activity in the Lied form. This has been ascertained by a comparison of his ideals and techniques of song writing with those of the earlier Lieder writers, Schubert and Schumann, and of Wagner. The second is that Wolf made certain distinctive contributions to the Lied. Among these are his application of Wagnerian principles to the form of the Lied in their refinements as characterizing motives (from the Leitmotiv), free metric accents (from speech-song) and use of the accompaniment to intensify expression through faithful rendering of details of the text. Another contribution is his distillation of harmonic practices into the purest expressive materials which made possible his miniature style. Still another contribution is his elevation of the accompaniment to a position equal with the vocal part, making both parts of an expressive whole. Another is his piercing psychological insight which utilized musical resources for the most subtle dramatic delineation.The third is that the Italienisches Liederbuch owes many of its stylistic features to the subject matter and formal structure of the poems on which it is based. The fourth conclusion is that these songs reveal a musical style which is indeed compact and devoid of nonessentials, achieving a maximum of expressiveness with a minimum of means.
John Playford and His Introduction to the Skill of Musick
To provide a background for this study, an attempt has been made to correlate the facts known about Playford's life and work. The examination of the treatise has two main objectives: 1. to give an exposition of the material presented by Playford (which includes not only theory of music with examples, but also instructions on singing and on playing the viol and the violin, as well as a number of musical compositions); and 2. wherever possible, to discover the sources used by Playford in writing the treatise.
The Lieder of Richard Strauss
This thesis discusses the lieder of Richard Strauss including a comparison between Richard Strauss and Johannes Brahms.
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