A Technical and Historical Analysis of Alban Berg's Sonata for Piano, op. 1 (open access)

A Technical and Historical Analysis of Alban Berg's Sonata for Piano, op. 1

This sonata by Alban Berg is a product of Arnold Schoenberg's teachings and is, indeed, a musical reflection of the Schoenberg of 1907-1908. At this time the musical thought of Schoenberg himself was in a state of metamorphosis, developing from the chromaticism of the late Romantic composers toward the twelve-tone technique which he was to formulate a few years later. The sonata, as a whole and above all, reflects the growth of an important composer, one who is perhaps the most important link between the traditional Classical and Romantic schools and the modern schools. His growth was based on a thorough knowledge of traditional styles and techniques, vestiges of which are seen in the formal design, chromaticism, and evasive harmony of the work. His advance is seen in his peculiar use of polyphony and motivic variation. Compared with many other works for piano, Berg's sonata is perhaps not among the most celebrated. But as indication of the attitude of a great composer who wished to build upon rather than break with his heritage, it is a most significant work.
Date: August 1962
Creator: Evans, Billy G., 1938-
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Use of the Brass Section in Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky (open access)

The Use of the Brass Section in Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky

Thesis examines the life of prolific composer Sergei Prokofiev and his work for the motion picture Alexander Nevsky. Gary Langford analyzes Prokofiev's use of the brass section in his compositions for the film.
Date: August 1971
Creator: Langford, Gary
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Survey and Critical Analysis of the Preparation of Instrumental Music Teachers with the Recommendations for Altering the Curriculum and Content of the Courses (open access)

A Survey and Critical Analysis of the Preparation of Instrumental Music Teachers with the Recommendations for Altering the Curriculum and Content of the Courses

The problem and purpose of this study is to attempt to establish a reasonably accurate basis for planning a program of educating prospective public school instrumental music teachers that meets the demands of present-day educational practices in the public schools. This present study may provide a simplification of the methods of teaching instrumental classes at the college level through a criticism of the preparation of instrumental teachers in an effort to discover specific contributing elements that assist the instrumental teacher to teach economically and effectively by making an investigation into the factors involved in teaching techniques that depend upon the acquisition of instrumental performance skills and upon practical principles of procedure in organizing and teaching instrumental music in the public schools.
Date: August 1941
Creator: Marcellus, John
System: The UNT Digital Library
Aaron Copland's Symphonic Use of Brass Instruments (open access)

Aaron Copland's Symphonic Use of Brass Instruments

Traditions in orchestration can be described by relating the practices of most of the important composers of a particular time. This was done with great success by two composers of the nineteenth century, Hector Berlioz and Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, in their books on orchestration. These texts are the basis for the traditional uses of brass instruments appearing in the chapter.
Date: August 1965
Creator: Hasty, Patrick R. (Patrick Robert)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Elements of Verismo in Selected Operas of Giuseppe Verdi (open access)

Elements of Verismo in Selected Operas of Giuseppe Verdi

In music, the term verismo usually refers to a realistic or naturalistic movement in Italian operas of the late nineteenth century. From the dawn of Italian opera four features have been manifested--umanita (humanism), sincerity (sincerity), passione (passion), effetto (not only theatrical effect but the supreme dramatic moment). The elements of verismo are among the characteristics present in the operas of Giuseppe Verdi where they reached a zenith of development. It is upon these veristic aspects, as identified in the second chapter, that the operas Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci were based. Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, and La Traviata richly exhibit these elements of verismo which have been identified in the fourth chapter.
Date: August 1968
Creator: Morgan, Ann Shands
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analysis of Maurice Ravel's Technique of Orchestration (open access)

An Analysis of Maurice Ravel's Technique of Orchestration

It is interesting to note that several of Ravel's compositions for the piano were successful only after he had orchestrated them. Ravel, a pianist, had a natural gift for orchestration, and when writing for the piano he seems to have projected his thoughts to the orchestra; thus some of his works are more successful' for the orchestra than for the piano. Since he orchestrated several of his own piano compositions, these present an excellent opportunity for a study of his orchestrations.
Date: August 1958
Creator: Allman, Murray Augustus
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Trumpet in Chamber Music During the 20th Century (open access)

The Trumpet in Chamber Music During the 20th Century

The purpose of this thesis is to trace the history of the trumpet in chamber music through the first half of the 20th century. It aims to discuss the technical advances in the instrument and demonstrate the importance of the trumpet in this medium. Chamber music is defined, in this thesis, as all serious instrumental music for two or more instruments played with one instrument to a part. The selections have been chosen on the basis of recognized merit of the composer, the variety of instrumentation, and the availability of music.
Date: August 1958
Creator: Bauschka, Conrad Romuald
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oboe Virtuosi of Eighteenth-Century England (open access)

Oboe Virtuosi of Eighteenth-Century England

This paper explores the development of the hautboy, or early oboe, and highlights the prominent oboe virtuosi of eighteenth-century England. Jennifer Bauer Morgan explains the lives and abilities of the performers and the evolution of the oboe.
Date: August 1980
Creator: Mogan, Jennifer Bauer
System: The UNT Digital Library
Simple and Compound Meter: An Historical Investigation of Their Differences and an Experimental Investigation of Their Current Significance (open access)

Simple and Compound Meter: An Historical Investigation of Their Differences and an Experimental Investigation of Their Current Significance

It was this writer's problem to determine which of these two contentions is correct; i.e., to find out whether or not it is possible for a person to perceive a difference in 2/4 and 4/4 meters by listening to the accents. It was felt that a large group of college music students and faculty members should provide satisfactory subjects for this experiment. If, as a result of this experiment, it was found that these trained musicians could actually discriminate between the simple meter and its compound with any marked degree of consistency, it would then be admitted that the difference in the two meters is important. If, however, it was found that even musicians, who knew the technical distinctions between 2/4 and 4/4, could not really hear the difference in the two when the music was played by competent performers, it would then be contended that no important difference exists.
Date: August 1946
Creator: Middleton, Jeanette
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Critical and Analytical Evaluation of Experimental Data Currently Available Concerning the Therapeutic Use of Music (open access)

A Critical and Analytical Evaluation of Experimental Data Currently Available Concerning the Therapeutic Use of Music

The problem which is reported in these pages represents an attempt to bring into one work a critical and analytical survey of the material currently available in the field of music therapy. There is such a wealth of new material, especially since the termination of the war, that the necessity for a new and up-to-date compilation of material is evident. The objective of this thesis is to collect general information as to the theory and practices of music therapy, rather than to secure for purposes of statistical analysis great numbers of detailed items in regard to a technique that has not yet been carried to a point where it can be standardized. However, this compilation does include some actual experiments which have been conducted in hospitals with the object of determining the effect on physical and mental patients of certain musical compositions and certain instruments.
Date: August 1946
Creator: Perry, Mary Aileen
System: The UNT Digital Library
Exploring the Private Music Studio: Problems Faced by Teachers in Attempting to Quantify the Success of Teaching Theory in Private Lessons through One Method as Opposed to Another (open access)

Exploring the Private Music Studio: Problems Faced by Teachers in Attempting to Quantify the Success of Teaching Theory in Private Lessons through One Method as Opposed to Another

I present strategies and methods for teaching fundamentals of music theory in the context of the private music studio through a variety of techniques and research. Beginning with a background in educational psychology, examples of behaviorist and cognitive teaching models are presented, and how each applies to teaching music is explained. Two detailed examples of actual lessons are presented, coupled with musical examples, to describe both the process and the concepts that can be presented. A qualitative experiment based upon the learning styles of three music students and the effect of different teaching styles when teaching the same concept is presented and discussed in detail.
Date: August 2006
Creator: McKnight, Michael
System: The UNT Digital Library
A History of the Oboe from Antiquity to 1750 (open access)

A History of the Oboe from Antiquity to 1750

The purpose of this study is to trace the development of the oboe and its use from the primitive double reed instruments to the oboes of the Baroque Period. Toward the end of this period the oboe became thoroughly established as an important section in the symphony orchestra and has remained so to the present time.
Date: August 1955
Creator: Stephens, Perry O.
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analytical Study of Solos for Beginning College Voice Students (open access)

An Analytical Study of Solos for Beginning College Voice Students

The object of this study was to compile a list of solo literature for beginning college voice students and analyze these solos for pedagogical and performance purposes. There is no lack of printed material on the subjects of singing and voice culture. But it is not readily accessible to teachers since it is extremely diversified and rather diffusely distributed throughout a variety of sources, such as books, periodicals, and scientific papers. Several lists and books containing songs for beginners have been compiled.
Date: August 1968
Creator: Bryant, Karen Sue
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Composite Analytical Index of Articles Appearing in Selected Periodicals, Issued Between July 1937 and June 1947: Concerning Playing Problems of Wind and String Instruments (open access)

A Composite Analytical Index of Articles Appearing in Selected Periodicals, Issued Between July 1937 and June 1947: Concerning Playing Problems of Wind and String Instruments

For several decades since the rise of extensive instrumental music instruction, various music periodicals have devoted a certain amount of space to printing comments, suggestions, and other pedagogical material to aid the student in playing a particular instrument. The writer, in his belief in the value of this material, has chosen to make a survey of various periodicals and to catalog certain items as a reference guide to the location of significant articles.
Date: August 1947
Creator: Gray, Byron E. (Byron Earl)
System: The UNT Digital Library