This dissertation work is concerned with Czech composers who composed for the solo accordion. These composers cover a range of individual generations of composition from the earliest born through to the youngest. There is a brief introduction to each composer along with their compositions for solo accordion including the characteristics of each individual composition and the circumstances of their creation. The dissertation work then presents the chronological development of Czech compositions for the solo accordion from the very beginning up to the present. It is also focuses on the teaching of the accordion within the context of the Czech education system. A very important part of this work is the evaluation of a survey conducted in the form of a questionnaire addressing teachers of the accordion at Czech conservatoires which was a probe into the current situation regarding the teaching of this instrument and the utilization of compositions for the accordion for teaching. This work should profit pedagogy of the accordion in the Czech Republic and should assist in its orientation with regards to the original literature for the accordion.

Francis POULENC (1899-1963) a été particulièrement influencé par la musique populaire de son époque. Pour étudier cet aspect de son œuvre, notre recherche s’appuiera sur la production musicale du compositeur, sur ses nombreux témoignages (correspondances, émissions radiophoniques et divers écrits) et sur tous les documents liés à la création et à la réception de ses œuvres. Le compositeur du Bal masqué n’imitait pas la musique populaire mais en empruntait quelques éléments : tel un peintre, il réalisait des « portraits de music-hall ». Afin d’apprécier cette imprégnation, nos analyses portent sur différents paramètres musicaux : la mélodie, le rythme, l’harmonie, les structures, l’orchestration et la vocalité. La finalité de notre travail s’inscrivant dans des perspectives socioculturelles, l’analyse de ces aspects techniques ne se dissocie pas du contexte historique lié au compositeur et plus largement au Groupe des Six. / The composer Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) was particularly influenced by the popular music of his time. In order to study this very specific aspect of his works, our research will take into account the musical production of the composer, his personal testimonies (such as correspondence, radio programs and various pieces of writing) and all documents related to the creation and reception of his works.When composing Bal Masqué (The Masked Ball) the composer’s aim was not to copy popular music but just to make use of some of its characteristics. Just like a painter he created what he would call ‘portraits de music-hall’ (‘Music-hall portraits’). For this impregnation to be fully appreciated, our analyses will tackle different musical parameters such as melody, rhythm, harmony, structures, orchestration and vocal effects. The purpose of our research involving socio-cultural perspectives, the analysis of those technical aspects cannot be dissociated from the historical context relative to the composer and, to a wider extent, to the ‘Groupe des Six’.

Understatements for two-channel fixed media is a four-movement study of the sonic potential of acoustic instruments within the practice of electroacoustic studio composition. The musical identity of the entire composition is achieved through consistent approaches to disparate instrumental materials and a focused investigation of the relationships between the various acoustic timbres and their electroacoustic treatments. The analytical section of this paper builds on contemporary research in electroacoustic arts. The analysis of the work is preceded by a summary of theoretical and aesthetic approaches within electroacoustic composition and the introduction of primary criteria of sonic faktura (material essence) used in the compositional process. The analyses address the idiosyncratic use of the concept of faktura to contextualize and guide the unfolding of the work. The reconciliation of the illusory electronic textures and the acoustic sources that parented them may be considered the ultimate goal of Understatements.

Instrument privilégié des compositeurs d’aujourd’hui, l’accordéon est désormais doté d’un vaste répertoire de musique savante : que ce soit en solo, en musique de chambre, dans l’ensemble ou l’orchestre, la profusion des œuvres est le témoignage d’une intégration de plus en plus grande de cet instrument à la création musicale et l’orchestration contemporaine. Cette recherche explore le développement de la création musicale contemporaine pour l’accordéon en Europe depuis 1990 : la constitution d’un corpus de plus de 9100 œuvres – Ricordo al futuro – est le point de départ d’une étude sociologique sur les raisons qui ont motivé ce développement, un regard sur la définition d’une nouvelle identité sonore de l’instrument et une analyse des différentes conceptions esthétiques du répertoire des accordéonistes en Europe. Par la création d’outils à destination des interprètes et des compositeurs, cette recherche se donne pour objectif d’encourager la diffusion d’œuvres récentes auprès de tous les publics. / Cherished by many composers today, the contemporary accordion posseses a vast body of art music. Whether it be solo, chamber, ensemble or orchestral repertoire, the sheer abundance of works with accordion rightfully reflects a growing integration of the instrument within musical creation and contemporary orchestration. This project explores the development of European contemporary music composed for the accordion since 1990, seen through the making of Ricordo al futuro, a vast corpus consisting of more than 9100 works. This database has been used as a starting point for an investigation into the coining of a new sonic identity, a sociological study on the reasons which have triggered this development and a meticulous analysis of the diverging aesthetic conceptions of accordion repertoire in Europe. By creating tools destined for both performers and composers, this research project aims to help circulate this new and extremely rich repertoire to as many audiences as possible.

Ce travail vise à comprendre pourquoi et comment l'accordéon diatonique breton a connu une profonde transformation organologique et stylistique au cours des dernières décennies. L'évolution de l'instrument est ici le témoin des dynamiques historiques et sociales, que l'accordéon présente la particularité d'avoir intégrées dans sa forme-même du fait de sa rare plasticité, et qu'il permet d'éclairer. Statut des musiciens professionnels au sein d'une pratique restée massivement amateur, rôles et mécanismes de l'apprentissage d'un savoir traditionnel initialement basé sur l'oralité, fluctuation des attentes sociales à travers les générations successives, sont quelques-uns des aspects qui se dévoilent au fil de l'étude et qui se relient.À partir du constat d'une mutation organologique progressive, nous chercherons à comprendre les modifications profondes des fonctions sociales jouées par l'instrument. Un retour historique permettra de définir les intentions et le statut des « pionniers » du renouveau de l'accordéon diatonique breton dans les années 1970. En nous appuyant sur ce socle, nous montrerons comment l'accordéon en tant qu'outil est en interaction étroite et permanente avec le geste du musicien et avec son intention (produire des notes – et dans quelle fonction sociale), et combien le passage des générations a renouvelé le contexte d'exposition de l'accordéon et le statut des musiques bretonnes dites « à danser ». Ainsi, nous verrons que la modification progressive de l'intention a conduit à une modification de l'instrument, mais que celle-ci, en retour, fragilise l'efficacité des intentions antérieures. / This work aims to understand why and how the Breton diatonic accordion has undergone a profound organological and stylistic transformation during the last decades. The evolution of the instrument here reflects the historical and social dynamics, that the accordion has integrated into its very form because of its rare plasticity, bringing them into light. The status of professional musicians in a largely amateur context, the roles and mechanisms of learning traditional knowledge initially based on orality, the fluctuation of social expectations through successive generations, are some of the aspects that unfold over the course of the study and connect with one-another.Starting from the observation of a progressive organologic change, we will seek to understand the profound changes of the social functions played by the instrument. A historical overview will allow to define the intentions and the status of the "pioneers" of the revival of the Breton diatonic accordion in the 1970s. Based on this foundation, we will show how the accordion as a tool is in close and permanent interaction with the musician's gesture and with his intention (producing notes – and in what social function), and how much the passage of generations has renewed the context of use of the accordion and the status of Breton music said "to be danced". Thus, we will see that the progressive modification of the intention led to a modification of the instrument, but that this, in turn, weakens the effectiveness of the previous intentions.

Since 1990s of the twentieth century to the present, the so called caretaker governments have served as a political crisis solution in the Czech Republic as well as in Italy. Caretaker government is an institute of temporary cabinets with a non-partisan prime minister. Other members of this type of government are usually non-partisan as well (but not necessarily all of them). This is the main feature that distinguishes the caretaker government from the traditional government led by political parties. The thesis aims to identify common points and circumstances leading to the establishment of caretaker governments on the example of two relatively close parliamentary republics from the institutional design's point of view. It focuses mainly on the status of political parties as it is their failure that leads to the fall of the previous cabinet and to the situation when it is impossible to form a parliamentary majority in order to establish new government led by political parties. Special attention is also paid to a role of the president of the republic. Face to face with weakened political parties, he executes his powers in a more autonomous way in accordance with a presidential accordion theory described by Mauro Tebaldi, especially his powers to appoint the prime minister which fundamentally works...