Date of Award

1996

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

Department

Music

First Advisor

Dinos Constantinides

Abstract

The dissertation consists of two parts: an analysis project: "Organization and Structure in Rands' Work " ... body and shadow ... "," a work for large orchestra in two movements by Bernard Rands; and an original composition: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. The analysis of " ... body and shadow ... " is divided into five sections. Section I introduces the work. Section II discusses the distinctive opening timpani solo and overviews the form of the two movements that follow, including reductive analyses. Section II also discusses surface textures of the music, including timbre, sustained sonorities, motion in homorhythmic polyphony, and orchestral punctuation. Section III discusses the rhythmic relationship between the opening timpani cadenza and the use of fragmented rhythmic cells borrowed from the cadenza as well as longer rhythmic phrases in both movements of the work. Section IV discusses the sonorities of the work and the corresponding linear pitch content. Finally, Section V includes conclusions and a discussion of the ramifications of the analysis, especially as to the relationship to the title and overall unification of the work. The composition part of the dissertation, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, is structured in two movements, with a slow movement followed by a fast movement (of course each of the movements has a significant amount of material in various other tempi). Pre-compositional planning includes the use of traditional architectural structures for each movement. The first movement is an ABA form, based structurally on a D sonority. The second movement is a modified sonata form. A large orchestra is employed, featuring woodwinds in threes, saxophones, brass, two harps, piano and celeste, four percussionists with multiple percussion, and a large string section.

ISBN

9780591035186

Pages

151

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_disstheses.6186

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