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The following paper will deal with the actantial place of memory and history in the works of Ge Fei, a so-called avant-garde writer in China. Analyzing his three major novels published in the nineteen-nineties, as well as an earlier short story, the paper will discuss how Ge Fei renegotiates the status and place of the literary subject as configured through the act of writing, and its close relationship with the medium of memory and history. Contrary to the prevailing opinion, the avant-garde experiment in Ge Fei's works does not intimate the dissipation of the subject, but rather assists in reconfiguring it in an entirely new and dynamic conceptualization. Instead of a figural e/End and vulgarization of literature in the nineties, Ge Fei's experimentation with the acts of writing and reading, as well as his play with language, open up new possibilities for the writing of new literatures in contemporary China.

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This study has investigated the influence of Central Italian folk music in select compositions of Ottorino Respighi, Peter Tchaikovsky, Felix Mendelssohn, and Jean Sibelius. Through the titles of these pieces, one can infer that they were influenced by the composer living in Italy, or visiting, on holiday. This study also includes a brief history of the serenade, from the traditional Italian folk practice to Antonín Dvořák’s treatment of the more modern 19th-century genre. A review of the evolution of the state of ethnomusicology in Italy, including discussion of art and folk-music instruments, poetry, carnevale, and processions within the region of Italy is included. Further, I provide information on tonal and instrumental characteristics and specific folk dances to aid in the investigation of the treatment of folk melodies within 19th-century pieces. The result of this research not only provides a more accurate interpretation of stylistic issues when 19th-century works containing Italian folk-music attributes are performed, but also the knowledge that the title of a piece does not necessarily indicate a musical significance. Some works exhibit a direct musical influence while others are “Italian” in name only. / School of Music

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This lecture-recital investigated the lineage of French composers who were influenced by jazz during the first half of the twentieth century, with a focus on compositions from the solo trombone repertory. Historically, French composers, more than those of other European countries, showed an early affinity for the artistic merits of America's jazz. This predilection for the elements of jazz could be seen in the selected orchestral works of Les Six and the solo compositions of the Paris Conservatory composers. An examination of the skills of major jazz trombonists early in the twentieth century showed that idioms resulting from their unique abilities were gradually assimilated into orchestral and solo repertory. Orchestral works by Satie, Milhaud, and Ravel works showing jazz traits were investigated. Further, an expose of the solo trombone works emanating from the Paris Conservatory was presented. Although written documentation is limited, comparisons between early recorded jazz trombone solos and compositions for orchestral and solo trombone was established. These comparisons were made on the basis of idiomatic jazz elements such as high-tessitura ballad melodies, blue tonalities and harmonies, syncopated rhythms, and many of the aspects of style associated with improvisation. All major French solo trombone repertory to mid-century was surveyed and examined.

The secular music of the Eastern European Jews is known today as klezmer. Klezmer was the traditional instrumental celebratory music of Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi Jews who eventually populated the Pale of Settlement, which encompassed modern-day Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Romania. Due to the rise of oppression and expulsion, many klezmer musicians or klezmorim immigrated to the United States between 1880 and the early 1920s. These musicians found work in klezmer bands and orchestras as well as Yiddish radio and theater. Some of the most influential klezmorim were clarinetists Naftule Brandwein and Dave Tarras who helped develop an American klezmer style. While the American style flourished, the popularity of pure klezmer began to diminish. As American-born Jews began to prefer the new sounds of big band and jazz, klezmer was considered old-fashioned and was in danger of becoming a lost art form. During the early 1970s, a reawakening study of klezmer developed. Henry Sapoznik, Lev Liberman and Andy Statman were instrumental in creating a klezmer revival in the United States. At the same time, Argentinean-born Israeli clarinetist Giora Feidman was popularizing klezmer in Europe. Klezmer had again become popular and the revival's impact on the concert hall was inevitable. Even though klezmer has existed for centuries, composers have only recently included klezmer elements in their concert works. Characteristic modes (Freygish and Misheberakh), forms (freylekhs and doinas), instrumentation, and rhythms all contribute to create a unique style. Three musical works for clarinet are examined in the dissertation: Simeon Bellison's Four Hebrew Melodies in form of a suite, Simon Sargon's KlezMuzik and David Schiff's Divertimento from Gimpel the Fool. Although the compositions reveal different approaches to the elements, the klezmer influence is evident in each of them. An appendix of clarinet klezmer influenced concert works is included.