Violin repertoire composed in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries placed new demands on performers. While numerous pedagogues have written etudes and treatises analyzing traditional techniques, far fewer have thoroughly examined contemporary techniques. Many of the existing etudes and exercises inspired by contemporary violin repertoire are of a very high difficulty level and may seem unapproachable to students with little to no experience performing the music of recent decades. As a result, many violin students are unacquainted with the language of new music. This dissertation is intended to help fill a gap in the pedagogical literature by serving as a resource that familiarizes advanced students with the notation and proper execution of the non-traditional techniques commonly found in contemporary violin music. This document includes a survey of violin repertoire written since 1970, an analysis of the non-traditional techniques used most often in the works examined, methods for approaching specific technical problems that arise in them, and nine etudes originally composed by this author. The etudes focus on nine contemporary techniques, ranging from contact point variations to changing subdivisions, and are intended for study by advanced violinists interested in performing contemporary music.

The lecture recital was given June 29, 1976. The subject was the History of the Violin Scordatura, and it included an historical survey of scordatura compositions along with discussions of the problems of notation and hints for solving the practical problems of performance. Works by Biber, Vivaldi, and Nardini were performed at appropriate moments during the lecture. In addition to the lecture recital, three other public recitals were performed: The first solo recital was on April 15, 1974 and included works of Albinoni, Copland, and Beethoven. The second program, a chamber music recital on January 19, 1975, featured works for piano trio by Haydn, Copland, and Arensky. The third recital was presented on April 14, 19 75 and included works by Vitali, Prokofiev, and Grieg. Magnetic tape recordings of all four programs and the written lecture material are filed together as the dissertation.

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The role of the first violinist in a professional symphony orchestra is rarely only to perform. The position of concertmaster, at the professional level, generally constitutes a wide range of responsibilities and activities, not necessarily restricted to the realm of music-making. The present research utilized interviews with five concertmasters of professional Brazilian symphony orchestras in order to respond to the following questions: What is the role of the professional concertmaster? What musical and educational experiences defined the paths of current professional concertmasters in Brazil? What is the scope of their responsibilities as concertmaster? Lastly, what are the expectations of these concertmasters for the future of their own careers, of their Orchestras and of professional Brazilian symphony orchestras in general? After a systematic categorization, twenty-eight professional Brazilian symphony orchestras were identified. The concertmasters of fifteen of these twenty-eight orchestras were contacted with an invitation to participate in a recorded interview. Ultimately, the invitation was accepted by two current and three former professional concertmasters. Analysis of the information gathered through the interviews was further expanded by an investigation into the careers of 16 additional professional concertmasters from various countries who were cited in the present research but not personally interviewed. Several trends were revealed within the life paths and professional perspectives of the concertmasters. Of the five concertmasters interviewed in Brazil, four received musical training outside of South America during their formative years. All five serve or served as music educators in addition to their orchestral work: three at the university level and two with younger students. Only one of the five interviewees passed through a strictly traditional audition process in order to assume the position of concertmaster. Of the 21 professional concertmasters about whom data was collected (including the five interviewees), at least sixteen held the position of concertmaster several times before assuming the role in a prominent orchestra. Five of the 21 concertmasters (including two of the five interviewees) eventually branched into the realm of symphonic conducting, while at least twelve of the 21 did not. Seventeen are or were employed as music professors at the university level. All 21 of the violinists cited within the present research performed solo and/or chamber music regularly throughout their orchestral careers. Ultimately, the interviewees emphasized the following four characteristics as the basic requirements of effective concertmastership at the professional level: (1) technical ability, (2) two-way respect of colleagues, (3) natural leadership/firmness, and (4) a supportive relationship with the conductor.

The role of the first violinist in a professional symphony orchestra is rarely only to perform. The position of concertmaster, at the professional level, generally constitutes a wide range of responsibilities and activities, not necessarily restricted to the realm of music-making. The present research utilized interviews with five concertmasters of professional Brazilian symphony orchestras in order to respond to the following questions: What is the role of the professional concertmaster? What musical and educational experiences defined the paths of current professional concertmasters in Brazil? What is the scope of their responsibilities as concertmaster? Lastly, what are the expectations of these concertmasters for the future of their own careers, of their Orchestras and of professional Brazilian symphony orchestras in general? After a systematic categorization, twenty-eight professional Brazilian symphony orchestras were identified. The concertmasters of fifteen of these twenty-eight orchestras were contacted with an invitation to participate in a recorded interview. Ultimately, the invitation was accepted by two current and three former professional concertmasters. Analysis of the information gathered through the interviews was further expanded by an investigation into the careers of 16 additional professional concertmasters from various countries who were cited in the present research but not personally interviewed. Several trends were revealed within the life paths and professional perspectives of the concertmasters. Of the five concertmasters interviewed in Brazil, four received musical training outside of South America during their formative years. All five serve or served as music educators in addition to their orchestral work: three at the university level and two with younger students. Only one of the five interviewees passed through a strictly traditional audition process in order to assume the position of concertmaster. Of the 21 professional concertmasters about whom data was collected (including the five interviewees), at least sixteen held the position of concertmaster several times before assuming the role in a prominent orchestra. Five of the 21 concertmasters (including two of the five interviewees) eventually branched into the realm of symphonic conducting, while at least twelve of the 21 did not. Seventeen are or were employed as music professors at the university level. All 21 of the violinists cited within the present research performed solo and/or chamber music regularly throughout their orchestral careers. Ultimately, the interviewees emphasized the following four characteristics as the basic requirements of effective concertmastership at the professional level: (1) technical ability, (2) two-way respect of colleagues, (3) natural leadership/firmness, and (4) a supportive relationship with the conductor.

The role of the first violinist in a professional symphony orchestra is rarely only to perform. The position of concertmaster, at the professional level, generally constitutes a wide range of responsibilities and activities, not necessarily restricted to the realm of music-making. The present research utilized interviews with five concertmasters of professional Brazilian symphony orchestras in order to respond to the following questions: What is the role of the professional concertmaster? What musical and educational experiences defined the paths of current professional concertmasters in Brazil? What is the scope of their responsibilities as concertmaster? Lastly, what are the expectations of these concertmasters for the future of their own careers, of their Orchestras and of professional Brazilian symphony orchestras in general? After a systematic categorization, twenty-eight professional Brazilian symphony orchestras were identified. The concertmasters of fifteen of these twenty-eight orchestras were contacted with an invitation to participate in a recorded interview. Ultimately, the invitation was accepted by two current and three former professional concertmasters. Analysis of the information gathered through the interviews was further expanded by an investigation into the careers of 16 additional professional concertmasters from various countries who were cited in the present research but not personally interviewed. Several trends were revealed within the life paths and professional perspectives of the concertmasters. Of the five concertmasters interviewed in Brazil, four received musical training outside of South America during their formative years. All five serve or served as music educators in addition to their orchestral work: three at the university level and two with younger students. Only one of the five interviewees passed through a strictly traditional audition process in order to assume the position of concertmaster. Of the 21 professional concertmasters about whom data was collected (including the five interviewees), at least sixteen held the position of concertmaster several times before assuming the role in a prominent orchestra. Five of the 21 concertmasters (including two of the five interviewees) eventually branched into the realm of symphonic conducting, while at least twelve of the 21 did not. Seventeen are or were employed as music professors at the university level. All 21 of the violinists cited within the present research performed solo and/or chamber music regularly throughout their orchestral careers. Ultimately, the interviewees emphasized the following four characteristics as the basic requirements of effective concertmastership at the professional level: (1) technical ability, (2) two-way respect of colleagues, (3) natural leadership/firmness, and (4) a supportive relationship with the conductor.

In recent years, a large part of the erhu's repertoire has been arranged for performance on the violin and vice versa. Given the difficulties involved in transcribing the music of plucked or woodwind instruments for the violin, the erhu has been the most popular choice for transcribing Chinese music for the violin. However, the erhu and violin are radically dissimilar instruments based on different principles. Pipa music is an essential part of traditional Chinese music from as early as 202 BCE, and the instrument's repertoire represents a large portion of East Asian music aesthetics, and this context should be considered to successfully transcribe pipa music for violin. This dissertation talks briefly about Chinese music history and its categories and also focuses on the history and development of the pipa as well as its repertoire categories to provide context for the following musical examples. I use existing transcription examples from different categories of pipa music as an avenue to discuss how to transcribe pipa music for the violin. Even though the violin has some limitations for use as a plucked instrument, the instrument can still make use of several different kinds of techniques in order to play the music in a way that can represent certain features of the pipa while retaining the violin's characteristics.

In Romanian, the word lăutari refers to highly skilled professional Romani (Gypsy) musicians. By interacting with Romanian culture and tradition, the lăutari settled down in the country and developed a unique musical tradition. Their music is characterized by intricate, elaborate, and refined ornamentation; its execution requires a highly level of technique. George Enescu, regarded as Romania's most influential musician, was affected by lăutari music. He created a unique musical language that recreates Romanian character by using lăutari elements. This dissertation examines how to approach Enescu's Violin Sonata No. 3 and perform it by understanding the characteristics of lăutari music as well as the work's use of such lăutari violin techniques as diverse expressive slides, vibrato, double stops, various ornaments, artificial harmonics, imitation of folk instruments, and a variety of bow strokes. Enescu's Violin Sonata No. 3 is regarded as a challenging work in the violin literature requiring a high level of violin technique. Although the standard violin repertoire is enormous, many violinists are looking to rediscover new and challenging repertoire, distinguish themselves from others, and promote themselves as professional performers. Therefore, this study should help violinists to approach the idiomatic violin writing of Enescu's sonata, especially its lăutari techniques and style.

This thesis sets out to investigate new notation symbols, systems, and string techniques in some one hundred 20th century string quartets, selected from a variety of composers. The analysis includes compositions that have, through contemporary aesthetic ideals, extended musical and technical resources and stimulated the development of compositional methods in such a way as to influence later works in the genre. k The thesis divided into two parts : Histoiy and Research Part One is a brief history of 20th century music, and includes the development o f the string quartet from earliest times up to the mid-century. Part Two researches string techniques and notation from the turn of the century up to 1990. The historical perspective demonstrates that after World War n, with the emergence o f the electronic age and a changing social and intellectual climate, traditional concepts were being challenged. Composers facing the dilemma affecting music in general, and the string quartet in particular, had to adapt to radically developing techniques and styles. Sounds and syntax o f a different type were initially, but unsuccessfully, sought to unify the divergent thinking o f the time. Ultimately, the developmental paths took shape from the problem itself and different approaches emerged to master the multi-faceted dimensions available to composers. Part Two investigates music syntax from the viewpoint of recording new symbols, notation systems and string techniques. Quartets of the first half of the century show that both the dissolution and the extension o f traditional processes were contained, importantly, within the continued use of conventional notation. The impact and significance of these quartets within the context of 20th century development cannot be ignored. However, the quartets researched post-1960 demonstrate that composers have enlarged all parameters of the genre through the extension of traditional resources and by radical innovation. This research demonstrates that the emergence of new symbols and string techniques in the second half of the century has been largely on an arbitrary basis. Nevertheless^ broad classification of these elements is undertaken. / Art History, Visual Arts & Musicology / D.Mus. (Musicology)