Theis(MMus) -- Stellenbosch University, 1983. / No Abstract Available

published_or_final_version / Comparative Literature / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Chinese / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Literary Studies / Master / Master of Arts

published_or_final_version / Asian Studies / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Chinese and Comparative Literary Studies / Master / Master of Arts

published_or_final_version / abstract / English / Master / Master of Philosophy

This study presents a survey of selected Contemporary Swedish Choral Composers and Literature representative of the trends in contemporary Swedish choral music. The varied compositional styles and techniques of composers Sven-David Sandstrom, Thomas Jennefelt, Karin Rehnqvist and Andres Hillborg exemplify these trends. Little information is readily available about the current generation of choral composers outside of Sweden. Most of the available materials concentrate on the music of composers of the 1940s Monday Group such as Sven-Erik Back and Ingvar Lidholm and Karl-Birger Blomdahl, the works of Gunnar Bucht of the 1950s who reacted against modernism, the 1960s avant-garde styles of Bengt Hambraeus, Sigfriend Naumann, Arne Mellnas and Folke Rabe. This survey discusses the life, career and musical styles of each of the composers and analysis of an a cappella work illustrative of their musical styles. Fundamental to the growth and musical development of the representative composers is an examination of the historical background, foundation and tradition of choral singing in Sweden. The select bibliography, list of works by the composers, catalogs of choral music, list of institutions and organizations, and publishers, is intended to serve as a reference guide.

Within the sacred choral music of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, little is known regarding his subset of works intended for liturgical use. This study focuses on the canticle settings for choir and organ, written by Ralph Vaughan Williams for use in Anglican Worship. The compositions in this study include: Magnificat and Nunc dimittis (Village Service), Te Deum in G, Service in D Minor and Te Deum and Benedictus. This study provides a discussion of the structure and history of the Anglican service and a description of how canticle settings traditionally function in liturgical worship. Each work in this study is analyzed with particular attention given to form and structure, harmonic language, text derivation and declamation, melodic tendencies and the role of the organ accompaniment. Evidence gathered from this study demonstrates that, although the liturgical canticle settings for choir and organ are diverse in function and style, they contain many common characteristics in such compositional areas as: structural form, voicings, consistent use of thematic material, and the effective application of text to music. Suggestions for performance options of the settings are also included in the results of this study. It is hoped that, through differentiating between these works with regard to function and style, this study will help close the lacuna in the choral literature concerning Vaughan Williams' smaller liturgical works and serve as an introduction to modern choral conductors.

The purpose of this dissertation was to research harp solos written by Canadian composers in the twentieth century and to determine factors that could have contributed to the rise in output of harp literature in Canada during that period. In addition to research of existing writings, interviews with two performers, Erica Goodman and Judy Loman, and two composers, Marjan Mozetich and R. Murray Schafer, were conducted. Analysis of six selected works from 1957 to 2002, Little Suite by Robert Turner, The Crown of Ariadne by R. Murray Schafer, Fifteen Pieces for Harp by John Weinzweig, From the Eastern Gate by Alexina Louie, Songs of Nymphs by Marjan Mozetich, and the King David Sonata by Srul Irving Glick, showed the diversity of output and provided opportunity to look for common elements. The factors that coincided with the increase in solo harp literature by Canadian composers included an increase in the number of professional harpists and composers, government support through commissioning grants, trends in solo literature at large, and avenues for performance. Specific motivations for the cases studied included commissions, respect for virtuosic harpists, interest in composers’ works, opportunities for performance and audience exposure to new works. / Review of literature -- Interviews -- Little suite by Robert Turner (1957) -- The crown of Ariadne by R. Murray Schafer (1979) -- Fifteen pieces for harp by John Weinzweig (1983) -- From the eastern gate by Alexina Louie (1985) -- Songs of nymphs by Marjan Mozetich (1988) -- King David sonata by Srul Irving Glick (1998) -- Conclusion. / School of Music