Browsing by Subject "Choral"
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item An analysis of text setting in selected a cappella choral works of Eric Whitacre(2009-05) Johnson, Taylor; Berry, Michael F.This thesis examines three a cappella choral works by Eric Whitacre, When David Heard, Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine, and A Boy and a Girl, from both a musical and narrative perspective. Each piece is analyzed using internal framing, structural downbeat, and text painting, and how all of these devices combine to accentuate the narrative archetype of the chosen text.Item Analysis of instructional time use and preferred teaching strategies of three highly successful choral directors(Texas Tech University, 2009-05) Patterson, Mark; Killian, JaniceThis was an observational study of three highly successful choral directors working with middle school, high school, college and adult church choirs. Each director was observed and videotaped working with a beginning-level and an advanced-level ensemble in their home rehearsal settings. A total of six rehearsals were recorded. The videos were analyzed using SCRIBE software (Duke & Stammen, 2007). Analysis focused on 1) overall time use in rehearsal, 2) specific musical elements targeted during instruction, 3) use of specific teaching strategies during instruction and 4) instructional activity during performance time. In addition, post-rehearsal interviews were conducted with each director immediately following their rehearsals. Results showed few differences in overall time use. Similarities and differences in were found in the targeted musical elements, with greater time spent in the less experienced choirs on pitch instruction and vocal production and greater time spent in the more experienced choirs on phrasing. The analysis of instructional strategies revealed a greater use of conducting in the experienced choirs and a greater use of teacher modeling in the younger, less experienced choirs. Data from the interview transcripts revealed several common traits among these directors. All three exhibited the ability to quickly shift from one teaching strategy to another when needed, a desire to develop the musicianship skills of their ensemble, and an awareness of some of the unique needs of their particular choirs.Item Re-creating the sacred: Romantic aesthetics in sacred contexts in the late 19th century(2006-05) Berry, James B.; Smith, Christopher; Dickson, John H.; Hobbs, Wayne C.The late nineteenth century saw a widening in the gap between the style of music written in a sacred context and that written in a secular context. While in previous time periods music written in a sacred context could be stylistically similar to that written in a secular context, the late nineteenth century saw the establishment of highly contrasting expectations, goals, and stylistic characteristics for sacred as opposed to secular idioms. Composers who desired to write in both sacred and secular idioms were thus forced to find a way to bridge this stylistic gap. The strategies which each composer chose to employ illuminate both specific characteristics of that composer’s music and also the overall contexts in which sacred music was written in the nineteenth century. This study attempts to explore this thesis through the sacred works of Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, and Anton Bruckner.Item The choral music of Amy Beach(Texas Tech University, 1996-05) Reigles, B. JeanAmy Beach, also known as Mrs. H.H.A. Beach (1867-1944), was highly regarded and acclaimed in her own time as America's first female composer of repute. Her works fell into relative anonymity following her death. The atmosphere of interest in women's rights and achievements in our own time has occasioned a resurrection of Amy Beach's works. She is considered today to be one of America's finest composers. Studies and performances have been done of some of her large instrumental works, her piano and vocal solo works, and chamber works, but her fairly large output of choral works has not been studied. This dissertation is the first comprehensive study of Amy Beach's choral works. It summarizes the best available knowledge concerning her life and work and articulates the importance and position of her choral works in relation to her other compositional activity. It also places her choral works in the historical context of 20th century American choral music. Through a general survey and a detailed analysis of specific works, this study summarizes Amy Beach's choice of forms, texts, harmony, melody, and texture, in order to ascertain a general style and show style development. The dissertation also explores the suitability of Amy Beach's choral music for today's professional, college, community, and high school groups in relation to {1) relevancy of text and harmonic style to the times, and (2) difficulty factors. A listing of works, publisher or location information, and a discography is included.Item The choral music of Amy Beach(Texas Tech University, 1996-05) Reigles, B. JeanAmy Beach, also known as Mrs. H.H.A. Beach (1867-1944), was highly regarded and acclaimed in her own time as America's first female composer of repute. Her works fell into relative anonymity following her death. The atmosphere of interest in women's rights and achievements in our own time has occasioned a resurrection of Amy Beach's works. She is considered today to be one of America's finest composers. Studies and performances have been done of some of her large instrumental works, her piano and vocal solo works, and chamber works, but her fairly large output of choral works has not been studied. This dissertation is the first comprehensive study of Amy Beach's choral works. It summarizes the best available knowledge concerning her life and work and articulates the importance and position of her choral works in relation to her other compositional activity. It also places her choral works in the historical context of 20th century American choral music. Through a general survey and a detailed analysis of specific works, this study summarizes Amy Beach's choice of forms, texts, harmony, melody, and texture, in order to ascertain a general style and show style development. The dissertation also explores the suitability of Amy Beach's choral music for today's professional, college, community, and high school groups in relation to (1) relevancy of text and harmonic style to the times, and (2) difficulty factors. A listing of works, publisher or location information, and a discography is included.Item The repertoire selection practices of Georgia public school elementary choral directors(2012-08) Canterbury, Alicia; Killian, Janice; Dye, Keith; Cruse, Carolyn“Perhaps the single most important factor in determining positive choral experiences for children is repertoire selection” (Broeker, 1998, p. 46). A survey of the extant literature on repertoire selection practices reveals a wealth of information regarding suggested criteria for selecting proper choral literature for the elementary chorus. However, it appears that there has been little research conducted or data collected regarding the actual repertoire selection practices of elementary choral directors. The purpose of this study was to examine the repertoire selection practices of Georgia public school elementary choral directors and to investigate any possible relationship among previous studies regarding the repertoire selection practices of elementary choral directors and secondary choral directors. Participants consisted of elementary choral directors (N = 117) who teach in the public school system in Georgia and were members of the elementary division of the Georgia Music Educators Association. An online survey was designed, tested and revised, and participants were invited to participate in the study via e-mail addresses available on GMEA’s members-only website called Opus (http://opus.gmea.org/Default.aspx). The survey was divided into five sections—(1) introductory information, (2) chorus information, (3) choral music selection survey, (4) reasons for selecting choral music, and (5) music educator information. Results indicated that the majority of elementary choral directors held after-school rehearsals once a week for 45 minutes to an hour. The directors believed that the amount of rehearsal time with their ensemble had a high effect on selecting repertoire. Directors selected elementary choral classics, holiday, and multi-cultural/folksong genres with the greatest frequency. Music from the 20th and 21st centuries was selected with a greater frequency than earlier time periods. Directors preferred to utilize unison optional 2-part, unison, and 2-part with their young singers. English was the preferred utilized language for their ensembles. Elementary choral directors preferred to use accompaniment CDs over piano accompaniments. When selecting music, directors utilized online music warehouses and conferences/workshops with the greatest frequency. It would appear that directors were primarily concerned regarding budgetary confinements. Many directors utilized music magazines as a source for locating literature such as Music K-8 and Music Express due to their budget-friendly attributes. Directors utilized peer recommendation, personal experience with music, workshops/clinics, internet sources, and choral reading sessions with the greatest frequency as sources for selecting repertoire. Vocal ability and maturity of the chorus, student appeal of the work, programmability, and the potential for aesthetic experience were the most important factors in selecting repertoire for young voices. While it would appear that the majority of the directors in the survey desired to select quality literature for their ensembles, the organization of elementary choirs as a whole may be endangered due to lack of support, perceived importance, and budgetary concerns. It is also the hope of this researcher that publishing companies will create quality budget-friendly literature which can be utilized for young voices. Further research in the repertoire selection practices of elementary choral directors is warranted and should be investigated.