The music of Bach becomes much more understandable through an examination of the composers who work before him. An examination of the music of the pre-Bach composers proves it to be amazingly fresh and vital, and it was in this field that Back sought inspiration.

The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the piano style of Maurice Ravel, including his musical style and influences of other composers on his piano works.

An extensive study on the influences of music education on the forming of musical identities was undertaken. Information obtained from thorough literature review, questionnaires and interviews has been analysed, collated and set out in the dissertation. The review of literature has revealed that there remain few unanswered questions regarding the defining of both music education and musical identities. However, few studies have examined the influences music education has on the formation of identity, particularly concerning the making of music career-choices. The effects of a variety of musical and non-musical developments and/or adaptations may influence the formation of musical identities, since the individual has to develop and adapt alongside these changes. This study was conducted in a multi-cultural South African society, and investigated the influences music education has on the forming of musical identities. The primary purpose of the study was to develop an understanding and awareness amongst professional South African musicians, in practice at the time of the study, regarding the value that music education has on the forming of musical identities. The aim in attaining the said purpose was, firstly, to examine the differences between formal and informal music education, the latter being very prominent in non-Western countries, including South Africa. In this regard musical arts education was also attended to. Secondly, musical identities were delineated so as to view their forming due to music educational influences. Finally, the study examined how prior exposure to different music educational aspects influences professional South African musicians’ career-choices. There were two groups of respondents in the study: <ol> <li>A group of music experts from different music spheres participating in semi-structured interviews, each lasting approximately 45 minutes, that were recorded and then transcribed; and</li> <li>A matched group of music experts asked to complete a questionnaire based on interview questions.</li> </ol> Diverse participants included academics, choir conductors, educators, ethnologists, tertiary music students, performers, psychologists, therapists, and representatives from the private sector. The results indicated that music education, continuously developing and transforming, contributes to one’s musical identities and is crucial to the development of identities, with particular consideration of one’s choice of music career. / Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Music / unrestricted

This thesis, titled ”Exploration in Art Music”, was conceived based on my curiosity to explore and compose music which combines the styles of jazz and Western classical music. Inspired by the Third Stream movement led by Gunther Schuller, which evolved in parallel with the 50’s avant-garde jazz scene, I have composed three musical pieces for a twelve-piece orchestra consisting of woodwinds, strings, and a jazz quartet. I’ve examined this work from the following two perspectives: As a composer – exploring ways to fuse the genres, observing contrasting idioms, and finding ways of opening up for improvisation when the music is otherwise through-composed. As a musician and bandleader – noticing how musicians from each of the two musical cultures approach and interpret written and improvised music. Throughout the project I have gotten a deeper insight into the culture of Western classical music, and this thesis observes and analyzes some of the differences and similarities, musically and performance-wise, between that and the jazz culture which I am originating from. / <p><strong>Framförd musik:</strong></p><p><em>Antmarch</em> - Erik Hasselfeldt</p><p><em>Midnatt i 1C307</em> - Erik Hasselfeldt</p><p><em>Akta dig för scootrar</em> - Erik Hasselfeldt</p><p><em>Louange á l’éternité de Jésus</em> - Olivier Messiaen</p><p><em>I stormens öga</em> - Erik Hasselfeldt</p><p><strong>Medverkande:</strong></p><p>Tvärflöjt – Tiitta Moilanen</p><p>Oboe – Sabina Scott</p><p>Bb Klarinett – Filippa Hedberg</p><p>Bb Klarinett &amp; basklarinett – Eskil Larsson</p><p>Fagott – Ciarán Hayes</p><p></p><p>Fiol – Maria Ikonen</p><p>Fiol – Vidar Karlsvärd</p><p>Cello – Elis Hakola</p><p></p><p>Sopran &amp; altsaxofon – Erik Hasselfeldt</p><p>Piano – Milos Lindegren</p><p>Kontrabas – Amanda Karström</p><p>Trummor – Filip Bällstav Öhman</p><p>Trumpet – Tumi Torfason</p>

Inspired by Chinese poems, the overall characteristics of the work reflect the assimilation of several non-Western musical and philosophical influences such as the use of pentatonic scale patterns, the principle of embellishing a single note, and the application of the I-Ching in dealing with active instrumental passages over a long-sustained computer music drone. Traditional Western compositional techniques such as aleatory counterpoint, serialism, and moment form are also employed in the treatment of thematic material, developmental processes and formal design.

A comparative analysis of the musical transcriptions of Dorothy Ashby with those of her predecessors proves that Ashby was a uniquely powerful and innovative influence on the genre of jazz harp. This dissertation begins with a summative biography of Ashby, following her education in both jazz and classical music through to her career highlights as a performer, arranger and composer. An analysis of Ashby's recordings reveals the development of her groundbreaking musical style throughout her life. This paper also examines Ashby's social activism through musical theatre, especially with regards to combating racism. Next, a brief biography of jazz harp forerunners Casper Reardon and Adele Girard precedes a comparative analysis of Reardon's "Aint' Misbehavin" with Ashby's "Soft Winds" and a comparative analysis of Girard's "Harp Boogie" with Ashby's "Blues for Mr. K." Finally, myriad examples of current musicians covering and sampling her work confirm the paramount and lasting influence of Dorothy Ashby's music.