Thesis (MMus) -- Stellenbosch University, 1997. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Hierdie tesif ondersoek die estetiese begrip nai"witeit met spesifieke verwysing na die Wunderllc:-n-t...;•r.••:ngs van Gustav Mahler. Die term nai'witr .L kom dikwels in die vroee literatwJr : '1r Mahler voor, trouens, Mahler het die term ook self gebruik. Vir die hedendaagse waarnemer is dit nie meer onmiddellik duidelik wat met hierdie term bedoel word nie. Die bekende aanwending daarvan op die terrein van die beeldende kuns is in die verband van beperkte waarde. Daarom word daar in hierdie tesis gepoog om die term in sy historiese konteks tot so ver terug as die sewentiende en agtiende eeu te verstaan. Dit blyk dat Schiller die belangrikste bydrae tot die onderwerp gelewer het, trouens, hy het die term tot 'n belangrike estetiese begrip ontwikkel in sy Ober naive und sentimentalische Dichtung. Verder word Des Knaben Wunderhorn, die belangrikste versameling van Duitse volkspoesie, in die konteks van die intellektuele klimaat van die vroee Duitse Romantiek geplaas. Mahler se "ontdekking" van die versameling en sy groot belangstelling in volksmusiek word ook ondr die loep geneem. Die hoofdeel van die tesis ondersoek die vraag in watter mate die begrip, soos deur Schiller ontwikkel, op die musiek en dan spesifiek op Mahler se toonsettings van Wunderhorn-tekste toegepas kan word. Dit word aangetoon dat die begrip in 'n algemene sin aangewend kan word op voorbeelde van natuurklanke, kindermusiek en volksmusiek. Hierdie voorbeelde het alma! 'n sterk invloed op Mahler en word in sy Wunderhorn-styl ge'integreer saam met 'n baie persoonlike benadering tot realisme, insluitende sulke middele soos die nabootsing van nie-musikale klanke, ruimtelike beweging, spraakintonasie en emosies of "innerlike natuur". Mahler se idee van musiek as 'n atbeeld van die natuur of van die struktuur van die wereld as geheel word ook bespreek. Vervolgens word hierdie kenmerke op uitgebreide wyse aan die hand van voorbeelde uit die toonsettings self gei'llustreer. Laastens word al die bevindings tot 'n omvangryke reeks gevolgtrekkings saamgevoeg. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This thesis sets out to investigate the aesthetic concept of naivety with specific reference to the Wunderhom Songs of Gustav Mahler. The term naivety is found frequently in the early literature on Mahler, in fact Mahler even used it himself. To the present-day observer, however, it is not immediately obvious what the full meaning of the term is as used by these authors. The well known use of the term in the field of visual art proves to be of only limited help. Therefore the thesb. ...ttempts to trace the historical context of the term as far back as the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Schiller is shown to be the most important author on the subject, he in fact develops the term to an aesthetic concept of great significance in his Uber naive und sentimentalische Dichtung. Besides, the thesis examines the context in which Des Knaben Wunderhorn, the most important anthology of German folk poetry, should be seen, placing it in the intellectual climate of early German Romanticism. Mahler's "discovery" of the anthology and his passionate interest in folk music are also investigated. The main body of the thesis concerns itself with the question of the applicability of the concept, as developed by Schiller, to music and specifically to Mahler's composition of Wunderhorn texts, which occupied the composer for the best part of his early career. It is shown that, in a general sense, the concept can be applied to instances of natural sound, children's music and folk music. These instances all have a strong influence on Mahler and are intergrated into his Wunderhorn style together with a very personal kind of realism, including such devices as the imitation of non-musical sounds, spatial movement, speech intonations and emotions or "inner nature". Mahler's idea of music as an image of nature or the structure of the world as a whole is also discussed. Subsequently, these characteristics are illustrated extensively by examples from the songs themselves. Finally, all the findings are drawn together in a lengthy concluding section.

Thesis (PhD) -- Stellenbosch University, 1988. / This dissertation analyses the style of the published instrumental works of Hugo Distler (1908-1942). Emphasis is placed on the innovative aspects of the style rather than on the rejuvenation of older stylistic models, this latter feature having up to the present received more attention than any other. An examination of the concept of style analysis in general as well as the problems arising from its application specifically to the instrumental works of Distler prepares the ground for an investigation of the principles on which the style is based. To begin with these principles are presented hypothetically and then verified by way of detailed discussion and numerous examples from the music itself. It is argued that they result from a style of remarkable integrity. A distinction is made between general stylistic principles (which include a linear-additive principle, a vocal principle and the principle of play) and specific structural principles. The latter are explained as specific realizations of the former on a structural level. Consequently the innovations on this level are described in great detail. This forms the main body of the dissertation. The terminology thus developed is then applied to an examination of melodic, harmonic, rhythmical and formal characteristics. It is found that an appropriate analysis and apt description of the style is possible in this way. The most important result of the investigation is the finding that Distler's style represents a highly original contribution to the search 'for a way to overcome the conventional tonal style without, however, resorting to atonality.

No description available.

This study presents a survey of selected Contemporary Swedish Choral Composers and Literature representative of the trends in contemporary Swedish choral music. The varied compositional styles and techniques of composers Sven-David Sandstrom, Thomas Jennefelt, Karin Rehnqvist and Andres Hillborg exemplify these trends. Little information is readily available about the current generation of choral composers outside of Sweden. Most of the available materials concentrate on the music of composers of the 1940s Monday Group such as Sven-Erik Back and Ingvar Lidholm and Karl-Birger Blomdahl, the works of Gunnar Bucht of the 1950s who reacted against modernism, the 1960s avant-garde styles of Bengt Hambraeus, Sigfriend Naumann, Arne Mellnas and Folke Rabe. This survey discusses the life, career and musical styles of each of the composers and analysis of an a cappella work illustrative of their musical styles. Fundamental to the growth and musical development of the representative composers is an examination of the historical background, foundation and tradition of choral singing in Sweden. The select bibliography, list of works by the composers, catalogs of choral music, list of institutions and organizations, and publishers, is intended to serve as a reference guide.

This study discusses Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's appointment to the Prussian Court of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, Mendelssohn's relationship with the Court (both personal and professional) and the numerous difficulties encountered with this appointment. In addition, Mendelssohn's musical responsibilities and personal feelings toward the cities of Leipzig and Berlin, Berlin's choral traditions (including a brief history of the Berlin Domchor) will also be discussed. Mendelssohn's op. 78, op. 79 and Die deutsche Liturgie written for the Berlin Domchor reflect the sometimes competing demands of the traditional liturgical genres (e.g. Masses, psalms, motets), which are more "objective" in nature and the far more "subjective" elements inherent in the Romantic "ideal" of expression. This study deals exclusively with the unaccompanied choral compositions written for the Berlin Domchor with particular emphasis given to op. 78 - Drei Psalmen, and op. 79 - Sechs Spruche.

The purpose of this dissertation was to research harp solos written by Canadian composers in the twentieth century and to determine factors that could have contributed to the rise in output of harp literature in Canada during that period. In addition to research of existing writings, interviews with two performers, Erica Goodman and Judy Loman, and two composers, Marjan Mozetich and R. Murray Schafer, were conducted. Analysis of six selected works from 1957 to 2002, Little Suite by Robert Turner, The Crown of Ariadne by R. Murray Schafer, Fifteen Pieces for Harp by John Weinzweig, From the Eastern Gate by Alexina Louie, Songs of Nymphs by Marjan Mozetich, and the King David Sonata by Srul Irving Glick, showed the diversity of output and provided opportunity to look for common elements. The factors that coincided with the increase in solo harp literature by Canadian composers included an increase in the number of professional harpists and composers, government support through commissioning grants, trends in solo literature at large, and avenues for performance. Specific motivations for the cases studied included commissions, respect for virtuosic harpists, interest in composers’ works, opportunities for performance and audience exposure to new works. / Review of literature -- Interviews -- Little suite by Robert Turner (1957) -- The crown of Ariadne by R. Murray Schafer (1979) -- Fifteen pieces for harp by John Weinzweig (1983) -- From the eastern gate by Alexina Louie (1985) -- Songs of nymphs by Marjan Mozetich (1988) -- King David sonata by Srul Irving Glick (1998) -- Conclusion. / School of Music

This thesis considers the musical response of the American composer, Miriam Gideon to political events during the McCarthy era. It examines the interrelationships between politics, society and culture and considers how these are reflected in two works, Epitaphs from Robert Burns (1952) and Altered Steps to Altered States (1953) that Gideon composed during this period. Specifically, this thesis focuses on Gideon’s transition from teaching and composing music within an academic setting to preparing for life in a musical world, without support from mainstream academic institutions. Following the Introduction, Chapter 2 documents the rise of anti-communist practices on campus at Brooklyn College and City College, New York City where Miriam Gideon held music teaching posts. It reconstructs the personal events that led to the loss of both of these appointments and examines how and why this occurred. It is argued that Gideon entered a period of ‘inner exile,’ and this concept and its consequences for Gideon are explored in Chapter 3. An examination of her private diaries demonstrates that the effects of the McCarthy era were not only physical, but also psychological and social. Chapters 4-6 consider Gideon’s music through the perspective of inner exile and aim to show that the music that she wrote was a reflection of her experiences. Gideon’s return to academia in 1955 and her rehabilitation back into the academy are discussed in Chapter 7. A complete list of Gideon’s compositional output is included and is organised chronologically, alphabetically and by genre. This thesis examines new documents not previously available to scholars, and includes interviews conducted by the author with Gideon’s former students and colleagues.

The great number of musical sources preserved in manuscript and printed form clearly reflects the prominent position held by the lute as a musical instrument during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Only a relatively small portion of this vast literature is presently available to scholars and interested laymen in the form of modern transcriptions. Referred to as "l'instrument noble par excellence," the lute's popular and fashionable appeal is evidenced by the large number of composers who dedicated themselves to this instrument. Among the number of outstanding lute composers living in Italy during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries was Giulio Cesare Barbetta (c. 1540-after 1603). During his lifetime Barbetta published a total of four books of lute pieces containing arrangements of polyphonic compositions of various Renaissance composers as well as a large number of original compositions including .preludes, airs, fantasias, and dance pieces. Although Barbetta achieved importance as a leading figure in the Italian school of lute composition, there is little readily available material, either biographical or musical; this study provides the scholar, the performer, and the listener with biographical data and a modern edition of the composer's complete works.

The great number of musical sources preserved in manuscript and printed form clearly reflects the prominent position held by the lute as a musical instrument during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Only a relatively small portion of this vast literature is presently available to scholars and interested laymen in the form of modern transcriptions. Referred to as "l'instrument noble par excellence," the lute's popular and fashionable appeal is evidenced by the large number of composers who dedicated themselves to this instrument. Among the number of outstanding lute composers living in Italy during the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries was Giulio Cesare Barbetta (c. 1540-after 1603). During his lifetime Barbetta published a total of four books of lute pieces containing arrangements of polyphonic compositions of various Renaissance composers as well as a large number of original compositions including .preludes, airs, fantasias, and dance pieces. Although Barbetta achieved importance as a leading figure in the Italian school of lute composition, there is little readily available material, either biographical or musical; this study provides the scholar, the performer, and the listener with biographical data and a modern edition of the composer's complete works.

Our modern motion picture composers are limited by the necessity of fitting musical impulses to action. The timing is a matter of split-second synchronization. The writers have no classical form to follow as each script requires highly individualistic treatment, highly restricted time elements, and highly technical instrumentation. Therefore, every composition is a challenge. The challenge includes not only the time element but a demand for a greater amount of originality in musical line and mood setting.