Scales and their Use in the Piano Music of Debussy and Ravel (open access)

Scales and their Use in the Piano Music of Debussy and Ravel

The purpose of this study is to acquaint the reader with certain scales, not merely as they are used to provide the theoretical "building stones" of all music, but as they have been used as actual scale passages in the piano music of two twentieth century composers. This is a study of the use of various scales in the piano music of Debussy and Ravel. A list of the piano music of these composers which was available for the present investigation is given in the Bibliography. A careful analysis of the music has been necessary in order to determine: First, the types of scales the composer uses; second, the interpretation of the scale in its context; third, the ways in which some scale passages are employed to help project musical thought in the composition; and fourth, the frequency of occurrence of types of scale passages.
Date: January 1952
Creator: Christensen, Elizabeth Ann
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Study of the Solo Songs of Charles Ives (open access)

A Study of the Solo Songs of Charles Ives

The purpose of this thesis is to give the prospective performer an insight into the content of the vocal solos of Charles Ives and to give the student and musicians in general an understanding of the musical devices employed by Ives and of his position as a song writer.
Date: January 1951
Creator: Bounds, Charles Evans
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Masses of Schubert (open access)

The Masses of Schubert

The background of the mass may be considered from many angles. This present discussion concerns itself with the early development of the form. Since the mass is a Catholic rite, the Catholic viewpoint is followed in religious matters. The purposes of this paper are to provide backgrounds for the Catholic tradition of mass and for Austrian composer Franz Schubert, and to analyze the masses written by Schubert.
Date: January 1953
Creator: Johnson, Orland, 1925-1998.
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Song Cycles of Moussorgsky (open access)

The Song Cycles of Moussorgsky

This study outlines the history of and development of Russian music, leading into the song cycles of Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky.
Date: January 1957
Creator: Blank, Florette Mary
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Evolution of Violin Technique from Monteverdi to Paganini (open access)

The Evolution of Violin Technique from Monteverdi to Paganini

The purpose of this thesis is to show through the presentation and analysis of authoritative information, and opinions drawn from the information and analysis, the development of violin technique from its basic rudiments as an accompanying instrument to the plane of a brilliant solo instrument, a position it still maintains today. This thesis aims to deal exclusively with the technical evolution of the violin. Many books on the history of the violin have been written, but none have dealt exclusively with the technical evolution of this instrument, and it is hoped that the materials in this thesis will constitute a contribution to this field.
Date: January 1954
Creator: Xeros, Chris P. (Chris Pete)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Stravinsky's Use of the Piano in his Orchestral Works (open access)

Stravinsky's Use of the Piano in his Orchestral Works

This study seeks to examine and describe the use of the piano in Stravinsky's Neo-Classical and Russian periods, as well as provide a history on the use of the piano of an orchestral instrument.
Date: January 1955
Creator: Griffith, Wayne (Garland Wayne)
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Analytical System of Hindemith and Schenker as Applied to Two Works of Arnold Schoenberg (open access)

The Analytical System of Hindemith and Schenker as Applied to Two Works of Arnold Schoenberg

This thesis uses two different musical analytical systems, one of Heinrich Schenker and one of Paul Hindemith, to analyze tonality within "Die Gurre Lieder" and "Fourth String Quartet" by Arnold Schoenberg.
Date: January 1956
Creator: Miron, Nathan (Nathan Ben)
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Descriptive Analysis of the Preludes (Book 1) of Claude Debussy (open access)

A Descriptive Analysis of the Preludes (Book 1) of Claude Debussy

The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twenty-four preludes written by Claude Debussy. This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon Debussy and his compositions.
Date: January 1956
Creator: Hudgins, Mary Nan
System: The UNT Digital Library
Beethoven's Choral Fugal Technique (open access)

Beethoven's Choral Fugal Technique

It is the purpose of this thesis to offer some pertinent information in the form of a documentary symposium and analytical study in which historical and technical matters relative to Beethoven's fugal techniques in his choral compositions will be presented. References to specific musical examples in this composer's works will be illustrated by diagrammatic and verbal analyses, and correlated with the pagination of the scores of his complete works as published by Breitkopf and Hartel.
Date: January 1958
Creator: Doering, Harold Owen
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Analysis of William Walton's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (open access)

An Analysis of William Walton's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra

The rhythmic analyses (derived from the rhythm tables of Chapter II) reveal: 1. Walton used rhythms sparingly. 2. Walton's rhythms constitute an evolutionary state of re-creation, i. e., Walton's rhythms are in empathy with each other. The harmonic analyses (derived from the harmonic fluctuation tables of Chapter II) reveal: 1. The most frequent chords of any classification occur in groups III and IV (chords of the highest tension). 2. The most frequent dissonant interval used is that of the major seventh.
Date: January 1957
Creator: Pipkin, Robert Joseph
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Early Piano Sonatas of Prokofiev (open access)

The Early Piano Sonatas of Prokofiev

The purpose of this thesis is to give a descriptive look at modern Russian music, specifically the early piano sonatas of Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev, with focus on style and style influences.
Date: January 1955
Creator: Meeks, Ida Ledale
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Soprano Role in Handel's Operas (open access)

The Soprano Role in Handel's Operas

The purpose of this study is to give some insight into the soprano role in Hgndel's operas in comparison to the other roles. From a total of forty operas written, thirty-eight have been published and will be considered in this thesis. There is a complete analysis of each soprano role, but only a few outstanding arias are discussed in detail. The study of the soprano role is preceded by a chapter on Handel's career, styles,and his operas today.
Date: January 1954
Creator: Weir, Ida Elizabeth
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Style Analysis of Three Representative Piano Sonatas of Alexander Scriabin (open access)

A Style Analysis of Three Representative Piano Sonatas of Alexander Scriabin

Analysis of Sonatas no. 1, 4, and 10
Date: January 1955
Creator: Bolster, Mary Anne
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Critical Study of Three Violoncello Suites by J.S. Bach (open access)

A Critical Study of Three Violoncello Suites by J.S. Bach

This thesis is a critical study of three violoncello suites of Johann 8ebastian Bach from the performer's point of view. Its purpose is to determine the comparative differences and similarities of several well known editions including the Bach Gesellschaft edition and the Pablo Casals recording. It will explain a few of the many discrepancies and provide adequate reasons for given suggestions and preferences concerning dynamics, tempi, ornamentation, bowing styles, and other elements of performance. By stating a brief historical background of the evolution of the violoncello and the development of musical form and style, it is possible to conceive Bach's ideas and intentions as he wrote the collection of six suites.
Date: January 1950
Creator: Meacham, Marjorie
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Anthems of William Byrd (open access)

The Anthems of William Byrd

The sacred anthem has had a unique conception and development that compares readily to that of other major forms of sacred music. Since an abundance of this music is used in our services, it is the purpose of this study to trace the history of the anthem from its origin in the early Tudor period to its culmination in the works of William Byrd. A special study will be made of the anthems by this master of the form.
Date: January 1955
Creator: Propst, Fred L.
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Study of the Secular Music of the Major Composers at the Court of Burgundy in the Fifteenth Century (open access)

A Study of the Secular Music of the Major Composers at the Court of Burgundy in the Fifteenth Century

The present work is intended to ascertain the most important stylistic developments of one major composer, Binchois, and several lesser composers: Grenon, Fontaine, Vide, Joye, Constans, Morton and Hayne. All of these musicians were employed by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy (1420-1467), when he was one of the richest, most powerful and most respected of all the sovereigns of Europe.
Date: January 1955
Creator: Couch, Reginald Leon
System: The UNT Digital Library
Transcriptions and Editions for Harp by Carlos Salzedo (open access)

Transcriptions and Editions for Harp by Carlos Salzedo

Anyone concerned with the harp in this century knows of the genius of Carlos Salzedo. His pedagogical, compositional and professional activities have had a tremendous impact on the harp world. With this in mind, the present study considers his transcriptions for harp from other works and his editings of other composers' harp compositions. It is the purpose of this study to find in what ways his work in this area has been helpful to harpists.
Date: January 1956
Creator: Thornberry, Johne Buddington
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Use of Music as a Therapeutic Agent in Connection with and as an Aid to Hospitalized Mental Patients (open access)

The Use of Music as a Therapeutic Agent in Connection with and as an Aid to Hospitalized Mental Patients

The increasing importance of music as a therapeutic benefit in mental hospitals has prompted this study. Numerous unscientific reports and papers concerned with music therapy have been published; however, material based upon controlled experiments and results is available which has proven valuable in the study of this growing aid for mental patients. The reference material in the following chapters has been organized and limited to objective reports produced by those who have devoted their interest and time to the facts about the use of music as a therapeutic agent in mental hospitals.
Date: January 1952
Creator: McClung, Marjorie C. (Marjorie Catherine)
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Rhythm of Western Polyphonic Music from About 850-1300 (open access)

The Rhythm of Western Polyphonic Music from About 850-1300

Rhythm in early Western polyphonic music.
Date: January 1955
Creator: Wiehe, Douglas Dean, 1926-
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Lieder of Richard Strauss (open access)

The Lieder of Richard Strauss

This thesis discusses the lieder of Richard Strauss including a comparison between Richard Strauss and Johannes Brahms.
Date: January 1955
Creator: Jackson, Jerald E. (Jerald Eugene)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Harmony in the Symphonies of Ralph Vaughan Williams (open access)

Harmony in the Symphonies of Ralph Vaughan Williams

The harmony of Vaughan Williams defies classification in terms of traditional harmony alone, making use as it does at times, of structures of superposed fourths, so-called "added-note" chords, and random sonorities, as will appear. Therefore, the chords will be placed into two principal categories of usage, traditional and non-traditional.
Date: January 1958
Creator: Edmonds, Billy Joe
System: The UNT Digital Library
A Comparison of the Hindemith and Schenker Concepts of Tonality (open access)

A Comparison of the Hindemith and Schenker Concepts of Tonality

The purpose of this thesis is to illustrate and compare, through a representative historical sampling of music, the concepts of tonality evolved by Paul Hindemith in his Craft of Musical Composition, Vol. I; and Heinrich Schenker in his Tonwille, MusijNkeael ische Theorien Fantasien, Das jeisterwerk in der Musik, and Per Freie Satz.5 When feasible, these two concepts will be compared with the conventional concept.
Date: January 1955
Creator: Knod, Grace E., (Grace Edith)
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Melodic Use of the Augmented Second in the Eighteenth Century (open access)

The Melodic Use of the Augmented Second in the Eighteenth Century

When a particular phase of music theory is omitted from the contents of a treatise or textbook on that subject, the omission can usually be ascribed to one of two causes. Either the omitted phase is of little importance or it is not used in the music of the period on which the treatise or textbook is based. It is the purpose of this research study to discuss a particular phase of music theory that has been omitted or avoided by numerous counterpoint and theory textbook authors. The material in the contents of this work is based on a discussion of the melodic use of the augmented second in the music of the eighteenth century.
Date: January 1952
Creator: Shipp, Clifford M. (Clifford Marion)
System: The UNT Digital Library
The French Ballet De Cour and Its Predecessors, 1400-1650 (open access)

The French Ballet De Cour and Its Predecessors, 1400-1650

A study of the historical development of the origins of ballet in Italy and France during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Specifically focuses on the ballet-comique de la reine and the ballet de cour.
Date: January 1952
Creator: Bice, John Arch
System: The UNT Digital Library