• Refine Query
  • Source
  • Publication year
  • to
  • Language
  • 77
  • 62
  • 17
  • 5
  • 1
  • Tagged with
  • 168
  • 168
  • 71
  • 66
  • 65
  • 33
  • 31
  • 30
  • 30
  • 17
  • 16
  • 16
  • 16
  • 15
  • 14
  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
141

The role of music in the Hindi Shiksha Sangh (South Africa).

Mahabeer, Swasthi. January 1999 (has links)
The promotion of the Hindi language by the Hindi Shiksha Sangh (South Africa) has dominated the cultural life of the majority of Hindi-speaking Hindus in South Africa for over fifty years. This study concerns itself with the role of music in the construction of a local Hindi identity in the Sangh. It examines the factors that created and sustained the Hindi identity. Areas that come under focus in the research include: the history of the Hindi-speaking Hindu and their language in South Africa; the promotion of the Hindi language; the role assumed by the Hindi Shiksha Sangh . (South Africa) ; the function and significance of music and the socio-historical context of music that informs the cultural identity of the Hindi-speaking Hindu. The theoretical basis for this research has been drawn from principles in musical ethnography. The study locates the cultural identity of a linguistic group within the premise of socially meaningful music. / Thesis (M.Mus)-University of Natal, Durban, 1999.
142

The pianist and the Brahms sonata for piano and violin, opus 108 in D minor.

Watkins, Marlene Jeanette. January 1989 (has links)
This thesis deals in particular with the pianist's approach to the Brahms Sonata for Piano and Violin in D Minor, Opus 108. There are two chapters, the first of which takes the form of a bibliography in which different theoretical aspects for consideration in the learning of the work are presented. One of the sections in the first chapter which is entitled The Pianist, should prove helpful to a prospective piano teacher, as well as a student of the Brahms Sonata in D Minor, Opus 10 8. In this section sources presenting different solutions to technical problems which the pianist is likely to encounter both generally, and specifically with regard to this Sonata, are listed. The other sections in this chapter include a discography and comments concerning recordings of the Sonata in D Minor, Opus 108, which a student of this work and its composer may consult. The second chapter of the thesis deals with specific issues involved in the interpretation based on my performance of the Sonata in D Minor, Opus 108, for the practical examination. Three other possible interpretations by well-known pianists are briefly evaluated. Attached to the thesis is a cassette tape on which recommendations for the practising of certain passages may be heard. / Thesis (M.Mus)-University of Natal, Durban, 1989.
143

The Zulu umakhweyana bow : Ndabisehlele Myeza and her songs.

January 1983 (has links)
No abstract available / Thesis B.A.(Hons)-University of Natal, 1983.
144

Considerations in the realization of an oboe concerto : an oboist's viewpoint.

Saunders, Robin Estridge. January 1979 (has links)
This thesis is divided into three main sections. Part I concerns general aspects of performance, whilst Part II deals specifically with performance aspects of the Double Concerto for Oboe, Harp and Strings by Hans Werner Henze. Part III is a summary and conclusion of Parts1 and 11. It is hoped that this thesis will provide both a fresh approach to performance in general and also to the performance of Henze's double concerto. I have chosen to discuss aspects of Henze's double concerto, because of its significance as a major oboe concerto in the repertoire and the demands it makes on the oboist both as interpreter and technician. / Thesis (M.Mus)-University of Natal, Durban, 1979.
145

The symbolism of death in Arnold van Wyk's Five Elegies : an application of William Kimmel's theory concerning the Phrygian inflection.

Smith, Martin. January 1991 (has links)
Arnold van Wyk (1916 - 1983) frequently referred to the extramusical concepts of the elegiac, and of mournfulness, introspection and death when describing the intended content of his works. The import of these concepts seems to have been a constant element spanning his entire oeuvre. In this dissertation, William Kimmel's theory concerning the Phrygian Inflection and the Appearance of Death in Music is applied to Van Wyk's Five Elegies for String Quartet. Kimmel's theory is applied to the following parameters of each of the Five Elegies: melody, harmony and structure. In addition. the elements of rhythm, pulse, texture and timbre are investigated. Since Van Wyk often linked the concepts of death and protest, an interpretation of the work as music of protest is included in the final chapter of the study. It is concluded that Kimmel's theory has substantial--although not conclusive--validity in terms of the work under study. It is moreover possible to trace the inflection's presence through the parameters of pulse, rhythm, texture and timbre. In the absence of specific indications by the composer of the substance of the intended protest, observations in this regard are of a speculative nature. / Thesis (M.Mus.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1991.
146

Pennywhistle kwela : a musical, historical and socio-political analysis.

Allen, Lara Victoria. January 1993 (has links)
This thesis is an exploration of the history of the pennywhistle in black South African popular music, the most important style to evolve around this instrument being kwela music. An analysis of kwela is conducted from several perspectives: historical, musical, socio-cultural and political. Chapter I explores the urban South African musical styles which preceded and influenced kwela. The first of these genres was marabi, which developed in Johannesburg's slumyards in the first three decades of the this century. Marabi was followed by tsaba-tsaba in the late thirties, which in tum gave way to the swing influenced genre of "African Jazz" in the forties. Chapter II chronologically traces the use of the pennywhistle in urban black South African popular music. An examination of kwela is preceded by a discussion of the pennywhistle-and-drum "Scottish" marching bands of the thirties and forties, and the rhythm-and-blues pennywhistle style of the early fifties. Various venues and their effect on the performance of kwela are explored, as are the effects of international recognition on the style's development. Chapter III comprises an in-depth musical analysis of kwela's stylistic components. The structure of kwela music and its harmonic, melodic and rhythmic components are examined. A discussion of kwela's instrumentation includes an examination of the roles of the guitar, banjo, string bass, drum-set, pennywhistle and saxophone. Chapter IV is an exploration of the social context and cultural milieu which spawned and nurtured the development of kwela music. Chapter V examines the relationship between kwela and South African politics in the fifties. An overview of this political environment is followed by an examination of the effects of particular apartheid legislation on the development of music in general and kwela in particular. Chapter VI concludes with an exploration of the ways in which various interest groups were able to find meaning and identity in kwela music. Included here, for instance, are the ways in which kwela contributed to the formation of urban black identity, and how the style came to have meaning for various white interest groups. Finally, the meaning of kwela today is considered. / Thesis (M.Mus)-University of Natal, Durban, 1993.
147

Contextual readings of analysis and compositional process in selected works by Arnold van Wyk (1916-1983)

Thom Wium, Magtild Johanna 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this project, contextual readings of four works by Arnold van Wyk are developed. They are the Symphony No. 1 in A Minor, the First String Quartet, the Duo Concertante and the Missa in illo tempore. These readings are grounded in richly detailed descriptions of the compositional processes, drawing on material such as sketches, autographs, diaries, correspondence and reception documents, as well as in structural analyses of Van Wyk’s music and of certain peer compositions. Each reading is set in a separate theoretical frame, resulting in a multi-perspectival consideration of Arnold van Wyk’s music that partakes in a range of current disciplinary discourses. The First Symphony is discussed in the discursive context of English Sibelianism, and Arnold van Wyk’s dialogue with Sibelius’s symphonic works is investigated through comparisons of Van Wyk’s and Sibelius’s applications of two-dimensional sonata form and tragic reversed sonata form. The reading so developed sheds new musical light on the difficulties of Van Wyk’s position as a colonial composer residing in the centre of a crumbling Empire. The compositional process of Van Wyk’s First String Quartet is described in juxtaposition with the compositional process of Bartók’s Sixth String Quartet, and the similarities and differences of the two narratives and the two compositions highlight a second aspect of Van Wyk’s colonial identity, namely the ambiguity of his return to South Africa from England, neither of which place could signify “home”. The reading of the Duo Concertante focuses on the Elegia from that work, interpreting the piece as part of a network of intertextual connections, including Van Wyk’s model for this piece, Martin Peerson’s (1580-1650) The Fall of the Leafe, Gerald Finzi’s Elegy for Orchestra Op. 20, entitled The Fall of the Leaf, as well as Van Wyk’s own theme for the Rondo of the Duo, to which he made various musical references in the Elegia which are associated with the concept of “prophecy”. This intertextual reading considers Van Wyk’s continuing problematic identification with the English musical culture and tradition, compounded by his uncomfortable place in the stifling cultural establishment of apartheid South Africa. Van Wyk’s Missa in illo tempore is interpreted in a post-apartheid context. The work purports to react to the conditions in London in 1945 at the end of the Second World War (when Van Wyk first started to work on it) as well as the conditions in apartheid South Africa in 1977-1979 (when he completed the work as a commission for the Stellenbosch Tercentenary Festival). The reading considers the ethics of art that intends to respond to situations of suffering, drawing on post-Holocaust art scholarship as a theoretical frame. In developing interpretations of compositions that have never been studied in such detail or with such theoretical rigour before, the thesis makes a significant contribution to Arnold van Wyk studies, and in its application of a range of methodological tools in order to construct poetic hermeneutic readings that are grounded in musical and contextual materials, it also represents a meaningful methodological innovation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie projek word kontekstuele lesings van vier werke deur Arnold van Wyk ontwikkel. Hulle is die Simfonie Nr. 1 in A Mineur, die Eerste Strykkwartet, die Duo Concertante en die Missa in illo tempore. Hierdie lesings is gegrond in ryk-gedetailleerde beskrywings van die komposisieproses, waarby materiaal soos sketse, outograwe, dagboeke, korrespondensie en resepsiedokumente gebruik word, asook in strukturele analises van Van Wyk se musiek en van sekere eweknie-komposisies. Elke lesing word in ʼn afsonderlike teoretiese raamwerk gestel, sodat ʼn veelperspektiewelike oorweging van Arnold van Wyk se musiek resulteer wat deelneem aan ʼn verskeidenheid hedendaagse dissiplinêre diskoerse. Die Eerste Simfonie word bespreek in die diskursiewe konteks van Sibelianisme in Engeland, en Arnold van Wyk se dialoog met Sibelius se simfoniese werke word ondersoek deur vergelykings van Van Wyk en Sibelius se toepassings van twee-dimensionele sonatevorm en tragies-omgekeerde sonatevorm. Die lesing wat sodoende ontwikkel word, werp nuwe musikale lig op die moeilikhede van Van Wyk se posisie as koloniale komponis woonagtig in die sentrum van ʼn verkrummelende Ryk. Die komposisieproses van Van Wyk se Eerste Strykkwartet word beskryf in jukstaposisie met die komposisieproses van Bartók se Sesde Strykkwartet, en die ooreenkomste en verskille van die twee narratiewe en die twee komposisies belig ʼn tweede aspek van Van Wyk se koloniale identiteit, naamlik die dubbelsinnigheid van sy terugkeer na Suid-Afrika uit Engeland, twee plekke waarvan geeneen die betekenis van sy “tuiste” kon dra nie. Die lesing van die Duo Concertante fokus op die Elegia uit daardie werk, en dit interpreteer die stuk as deel van ʼn netwerk van intertekstuele verbindings, insluitende Van Wyk se model vir hierdie stuk, Martin Peerson (1580-1650) se The Fall of the Leafe, Gerald Finzi se Elegie vir Orkes Op. 20, getiteld The Fall of the Leaf, asook Van Wyk se eie tema vir die Rondo van die Duo, waarna hy verskeie musikale verwysings in die Elegia gemaak het wat geassosieer word met die konsep van “profesie”. Hierdie intertekstuele lesing beskou Van Wyk se aangaande problematiese identifisering met Engelse musiekkultuur en –tradisie, vererger deur sy ongemaklike plek in die verstikkende kulturele establishment van apartheid Suid-Afrika. Van Wyk se Missa in illo tempore word in ʼn post-apartheid konteks geïnterpreteer. Die werk stel sigself voor as reaksie op die toestande in Londen in 1945 teen die einde van die Tweede Wêreldoorlog (toe Van Wyk die eerste keer daaraan begin werk het) asook die toestande in apartheid Suid-Afrika in 1977-1979 (toe hy die werk voltooi het as ʼn opdrag vir die Stellenbosch Drie-Eeue Fees). Die lesing oorweeg die etiek van kuns wat ten doel het om te reageer op situasies van lyding en gebruik post-Holocaust kunsstudies as teoretiese raam. In sy ontwikkeling van interpretasies van komposisies wat nog nooit in soveel besonderhede of só teoreties nougeset bestudeer is nie, maak die tesis ʼn beduidende bydrae tot Arnold van Wyk studies, en in sy toepassing van ʼn verskeidenheid metodologiese hulpmiddels om poëtiese hermeneutiese lesings te konstrueer wat gegrond is in musikale en kontekstuele materiale, verteenwoordig dit ook ʼn betekenisvolle metodologiese vernuwing.
148

Celebrating cultural diversity : implementing an integrated approach to arts and culture in the intermediate phase of curriculum 2005

Malan, Sandra Ruth 04 1900 (has links)
Thesis (M.Mus)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since its inception, educators across the board in South Africa have struggled to implement the new curriculum. Initial problems with terminology and availability of learning materials have been addressed, but still the resistance to Outcomes Based Education (0BE) and Curriculum 2005 (C2005) continues. Some of the reasons for the resistance point to feelings of disempowerment experienced by generalist and specialist educators who now have to teach the new Learning Area Arts and Culture. This has been attributed to, amongst others, a lack of training, resulting in feelings of inadequacy, inappropriate training for large multicultural classes and the lack of teaching resources. Another reason for the resistance has been described as a resistance to change. Many educators have found it difficult to make the paradigm shift from the previous educational system to OBE and C2005. The aim of the study is to research and explore ways of empowering educators to teach Arts and Culture. The new educational system is geared to redressing the imbalances of the past and giving more expression to the diversity of cultures represented in South African schools. Whereas the previous system was founded on exclusively Eurocentric ideology, principles and values, the new system aims at a more inclusive Afrocentric approach. However, criticisms leveled at C2005 have suggested that it is still basically Western in terms of values, terminology and methodology. This study is therefore aimed at investigating a culturally diverse music/arts curriculum, which draws on the wealth of resources, methods and modes readily accessible in South Africa. A comprehensive literature review guides the study towards a greater understanding of how cultural identities are formed out of a need to belong and how important recognition is to individuals and groups, particularly in terms of their diverse cultural expressions. Music and the arts are understood as being vitally important channels for expression of this diversity. Yet, true to the Afrocentric principle of holism, unity is found in diversity. As much common ground exists between an integrated approach and an Afrocentric approach to music/arts education, these principles are explored to determine whether they can be adapted for use in contemporary South African classrooms. An integrated project mode, which provides a balance between the specific knowledge contexts of the various Learning Areas and collaborative learning aimed at developing the natural links between learning areas to create a vibrant whole, is suggested. The researcher conducted an integrated project at her school with the common theme of "District Six" linking four Learning Areas and their components. Participatory action research using qualitative methods such as questionnaires were used to determine the feasibility of an integrated project mode of learning as a means of empowering educators to teach Arts and Culture. Subsequently recommendations were made regarding implementation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sedert die instelling van die nuwe kurrikulum in Suid-Afrika het opvoeders gesukkel om dit te implementeer. Die aanvanklike probleme met terminologie en die gebrek aan geskikte bronne is aangespreek, maar die weerstand het nie verminder nie. Van die redes hiervoor verwys na gevoelens van ontmagtiging onder algemene en gespesialiseerde opvoeders wat die nuwe leergebied van Kuns en Kultuur moes aanbied. Die weerstand word toegeskryf aan, onder andere, gevoelens van ontoereikendheid, onvanpaste opleiding om met groot multi-kulturele klasse te werk en 'n gebrek aan onderrigbronne. 'n Ander rede is beskryf as teëstand teen verandering. Baie opvoeders het dit moeilik gevind om die paradigma-skuif te maak vanaf die vorige stelsel na Uitkoms Gebaseerde Onderwys (UG0) en Kurrikulum 2005 (K2005). Die doel van die studie is dus om navorsing te doen en ondersoek in te stel na maniere waarop opvoeders bemagtig kan word om Kuns en Kultuur aan te bied. Die nuwe opvoedingstelsel is gefokus op regstelling van die onewewigtighede van die verlede en op 'n groter uitdrukking van die kulturele diversiteit wat in Suid-Afrikaanse skole verteenwoordig is. Terwyl die vorige stelsel gebaseer was op 'n Eurosentriese ideologie, beginsels en waardes, is die nuwe gefokus op 'n Afrosentriese benadering. Tog is daar kritiek teen Kurrikulum 2005 juis omdat dit nog altyd gebaseer is op Westerse waardes, terminologie en metodes. Die studie gaan dus oor 'n kurrikulum vir musiek en die kunste wat inspirasie put uit die rykdom van Suid-Afrikaanse bronne, metodes en modusse. 'n Omvattende literatuur oorsig voer die studie tot die begrip dat kulturele identiteit gevorm word uit 'n behoefte om te behoort en deel te wees, hoe belangrik erkenning van individue en groepe is, veral om hul diverse kulturele identiteit uit te druk. Eie aan die Afrosenstriese beginsel van holisme kan eenheid binne diversiteit gevind word. Omdat daar baie gemeenskaplikheid bestaan tussen 'n geïntegreerde en 'n Afrosentriese benadering tot musiek/kuns opvoeding, word die beginsels verken om te bepaal of dit aangepas kon word vir gebruik in hedendaagse Suid- Afrikaanse klaskamers. 'n Geïntegreerde projek-modus word voorgestel, wat 'n balans skep tussen die spesifieke kontekste van kennis in verskeie Leerareas en koöperatiewe leer wat daarop gemik is om die natuurlike skakels tussen die verskillende Leerareas te ontwikkel sodat 'n groter geheel geskep word. Die navorser het by haar skool 'n geïntegreerde projek oor Distrik Ses geloods wat vier leergebiede, insluitend hul komponente, ingetrek het. Deelnemende aksie-navorsing soos vraelyste is gebruik om die uitvoerbaarheid van die geïntegreerde projek-metode te bepaal as 'n metode om opvoeders te bemagtig om Kuns en Kultuur by skole aan te bied. Dit sluit af met voorstelle wat gemaak is in verband met die implementering van die nuwe Kurrikulum.
149

Musical networks : the case for a neural network methodology in advertisement music research

Olivier, Hannelore 04 1900 (has links)
Thesis (M.Mus.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Countless scientists had been struggling for centuries to find a significant connection between cognition, emotion and reasoning – resulting in today’s rather embarrassingly imperfect understanding of even the most basic human cognition. We should apprehend that it is unlikely that major breakthroughs in the Cognitive Sciences, Psychology, Sociology or the Medical Sciences will elucidate everything about the human brain and -behaviour in the very near future. Realizing this, it is realistic that we should transfer our attention to things that we do know and understand, and reconsider the power that lies in the integration of results and an interdisciplinary perspective in research. Using the tools we have to our disposal today – digital tools such as ANNs which did not exist a few decades before – this is actually readily viable today. This thesis demonstrates that it is possible to break the traditional boundaries that have periodically prevented the Humanities and the Natural Sciences to join forces towards a greater understanding of human beings. By using ANNs, we are able to merge data from any subfield within the Humanities and Natural Sciences in a single study. The results, interpretations and applications which could develop from such a study would certainly be more inclusive than those derived from research conducted in one or two of these fields in isolation. Sufficient evidence is provided in this dissertation to support a methodology which employs an artificial neural network to assist with decision-making processes related to the choice of advertisement music. The main objective of this endeavour is to establish the feasibility of combining data from many diverse fields, in the creation of an ANN that can be helpful in research regarding South African advertisement music. The thesis explores the notion that knowledge from many interdisciplinary study fields ought to play a leading role in the creation and assessment of effective, target-group-specific advertisement music. In obtaining this goal, it examines the probability of producing a computer-based tool which can assist people working in the advertising industry to obtain an educated match between product, consumer, and advertisement music. Taking a multidisciplinary point of view, the author suggests a methodology for the design of a digital tool in the form of a musical network model. It is concluded that, by using this musical network, it is indeed possible to guarantee a functional musically-paired commercial, which effectively addresses its target-group and has an appropriate emotional effect in support of the marketing goals of the advertising agent. The thesis also demonstrates that it is possible to gain new insights regarding a fairly unstudied discipline, without necessarily conducting new research studies in the specified field. The thesis proves that - by taking an interdisciplinary approach and by using ANNs - it is possible to attain new data that is scientifically valid, even in an unacknowledged field such as South African advertisement music. Although the scope of the thesis does not provide for the actual implementation of the musical network, the feasibility of the conceptual idea is thoroughly examined, and it is concluded that the theory in it’s entirely is definitely feasible, and can be implemented in a future study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vir eeue al probeer wetenskaplikes ‘n betekenisvolle verwantskap tussen denke, emosie en redenasie vind. Nietemin het ons vandag slegs ‘n beperkte begrip van selfs die mees basiese menslike kognisie. Ons moet besef dat dit onwaarskynlik is dat deurbrake in die Kognitiewe Wetenskappe, Sielkunde, Sosiologie of die Mediese Wetenskap in die nabye toekoms die volle funksionaliteit van die menslike brein en gedrag sal bekendmaak. Met inagname hiervan, is ‘n aandagsverskuiwing geoorloof - na die dinge wat ons wel weet en verstaan. Die enorme potensiaal opgesluit in die integrasie van resultate en ‘n interdissiplinêre navorsingsperspektief behoort gevolglik heroorweeg te word. Ons beskik tans oor meer as voldoende digitale hulpbronne, waaronder kunsmatige neurale netwerke, wat wel so ‘n benadering kan bewerkstellig. In hierdie tesis word daar gedemonstreer dat dit moontlik is om die grense wat tradisioneel ‘n samewerking tussen die Geestes- en Natuurwetenskappe beperk het, af te breek - ‘n werkswyse wat noodwendig sal lei tot ‘n beter begrip van die mens. Kunsmatige neurale netwerke maak dit moontlik om navorsingsdata uit die Geestes- en Natuurwetenskappe te kombineer in ‘n enkele onderneming. Die bevindinge, interpretasies en toepasings wat potensieel uit so ‘n metodologie sou kon voortspruit, is sonder twyfel meer omvattend as dié afkomstig vanuit ‘n eendimensionele studie. Voldoende bewyse word deur die loop van hierdie studie voorgehou ter ondersteuning van ‘n kunsmatige neurale netwerk-metodologie in die assistering van besluitnemingsprosesse rakende advertensiemusiek. Die hoofdoelwit van die onderneming is om te toets of die ontwerp van ‘n kunsmatige neurale netwerk - deur die kombinasie van data uit diverse studierigtings - wel geoorloof en funksioneel sou kon wees. Die aanname dat inligting uit ‘n aantal interdissiplinêre studierigtings ‘n prominente rol behoort te speel tydens die skep en beoordeling van effektiewe, teikengroep-gerigte advertensiemusiek, word gevolglik ondersoek. Om hierdie objektief te bewerkstellig, word die waarskynlikheid bestudeer na die ontwerp van ‘n rekenaargebaseerde hulpbron - wat mense in die advertensiewese behulpsaam kan wees om ‘n berekende en ingeligte keuse uit te oefen om produk, verbruiker en advertensiemusiek te laat pas. Die outeur benader die probleem vanuit ‘n multidissiplinêne oogpunt, en stel ‘n werkswyse voor vir die ontwerp van ‘n digitale hulpbron – in die vorm van ‘n musikale netwerk model. Daar word bevind dat - deur die gebruik van die voorgestelde model, dit wel moontlik is om die funksionaliteit van ‘n musiekgepaarde advertensie te verseker. Verder word daar gedemonstreer dat nuwe insigte rakende ‘n grotendeels afgeskeepte studierigting soos Suid-Afrikaanse advertensiemusiek moeiteloos bekom kan word, sonder om noodwendig navorsing binne die spesifieke gebied te loods. Laasgenoemde is doenbaar deur ‘n interdissiplinêre navorsingsbenadering, gekombineerd met ‘n kunsmatige neurale netwerk-metodologie. Die omvang van hierdie studie maak nie voorsiening vir die implementering van die musikale netwerk nie. Nietemin word die werkbaarheid van die konseptuele idee in diepte ondersoek, met die gevolgtrekking dat die teorie in sy geheel sonder twyfel prakties is, en in ‘n toekomstige studie geïmplementeer kan word.
150

An analysis of Priaulx Rainier’s Barbaric Dance Suite for piano

Kruger, Esthea 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MMus (Music))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Priaulx Rainier (1903-1986) was a South-African born composer whose highly original compositional style attracted great attention during her lifetime. She spent most of her life in England, but was inspired by the images and recollections of her youth in Africa. Despite the critical acclaim she received, little research has been done about her, both in South Africa and abroad. Additionally, the nature of existing sources is mostly not analytical, but rather provides an overview of her life or general aspects of her style. Although some conclusions have been drawn about her compositional style, they are not thoroughly substantiated by concrete analytical evidence. Also, the focus is mostly on her prominent rhythmic use (often linked by authors to the “African” element of her idiom), with an evident disregard of the other aspects of style, most notably with regard to pitch coherence. This research attempts to correct this unbalanced discourse by analysing one of her few solo piano works, the Barbaric Dance Suite (composed in 1949), and pointing out significant pitch relations, similarities and contrasts. The rationale for selecting this specific work originated from Rainier’s own pronouncement that “The Suite is a key to all my later music, for in the three DANCES, their structural embryo is, on a small scale, the basis for most of the later works.” Although the scope of the research did not allow for a comparative analysis, it is strongly believed that the conclusions reached in this study could also be applicable to many of Rainier’s other works, especially of the early period. The study consists of an introduction in which the Barbaric Dance Suite is contextualised, followed by the main body of the thesis that consists of a detailed analysis of each of the three movements. The foremost method of analysis used is set theory analysis, which could be briefly described as a method whereby (particularly atonal) music is segmented and categorised in pitch class sets. As set theory focuses exclusively on the dimension of pitch, traditional methods of analysis are employed to examine the other musical parameters. In the conclusion, the analytical results are contextualised with regard to existing pronouncements on Rainier’s oeuvre. The study also comments on the applicability of set theory as analytical system in Rainier’s music. The many complex pitch relations that were discovered by the intensive analysis of pitch content has given enough evidence to conclude that Rainier’s use of sonorities has been unjustly neglected in the discourse of this work and perhaps also in her musical style as a whole. It is hoped that further detailed analysis of her use of sonorities in other works could lead authorities to revise the insistent pronouncements on her rhythmic use in favour of a more balanced assessment of all aspects of her compositional style.

Page generated in 0.0377 seconds