The Piano Style of Claude Debussy (open access)

The Piano Style of Claude Debussy

This thesis begins by describing the piano's history and development and then goes into how Claude Debussy used the piano in his music and the style in which he composed for the piano.
Date: June 1951
Creator: Ryan, Alexander Boggs
System: The UNT Digital Library
Music Education in the Protestant Church (open access)

Music Education in the Protestant Church

The purpose of this study was to determine and describe ways in which music education can be used in Protestant churches. During the last twenty years, participation in church music has grown very rapidly. The increase is a result of the growth of music in general. Music has become an important part of home, school, church, and community functions. This is evidenced by many facts: symphony orchestras, as well as community instrumental and choral groups have increased in number to the extent that there are more today than at any time in history; school music has taken tremendous strides since 19257 and church music programs have been developed to such a degree that they attract large numbers of people. In spite of the tremendous advance of music in general, and in the field of church music in particular, there is still much that needs to be done in church music. For example, when "Sacred Music" is mentioned to an average group of Americans, some will respond with blank and uninterested stares. Others will mention some of the well-worn sentimentalized, semi-religious songs such as "He," "The Man Upstairs," "You'll Never Walk Alone," or other examples of commercialized religion, Those people, and …
Date: June 1967
Creator: Sanders, Gurvis Glenden
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Secular Solo Songs of Pelham Humfrey (open access)

The Secular Solo Songs of Pelham Humfrey

Humfrey's music, which is chiefly sacred, includes a large number of anthems, odes, services and songs. His compositions, particularly his sacred compositions, have received extensive investigation only on one other occasion, in Henry Bryce Jordan's unpublished dissertation on the subject. Of his sacred music, the anthems form by far the largest and most signification part. Six of them were printed in W. Boyce's Cathedral Music (London, 1760); twelve more, including the "club anthem" and an evening service, are to be found as part of the Tudway Collection of the British Museum (Harl. MS 7338) and others are extant in manuscript at the libraries of Ely, Salisbury, Windsor, the Friz-william Museum (Cambridge), Christ Church (Oxford, Birmingham University, St. Michael's (Tenbury), and the Additional manuscripts in the British Museum. It was primarily int he anthems that Humfrey introduced into England some of the declamatory methods of the French theatre and thus secured for himself the credit of having established their form and style. His solo songs, on the other hand seem to occupy a somewhat less esteemed position, attributable perhaps to their remarkable simplicity, and in few cases to their apparent neglect of such musical fundamentals as melody and rhythm. It is …
Date: June 1966
Creator: Blancq, Charles, 1940-
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Development of an Objective Approach to the Measurement and Improvement of Aural Discrimination in Music (open access)

The Development of an Objective Approach to the Measurement and Improvement of Aural Discrimination in Music

The purpose of this experiment is therefore (1) to design a test to measure the skill of a heterogeneous group of college music students and (2) to administer and evaluate an aural training program which could be used to develop efficiently aural intelligence. The students used in this experiment were intentionally chosen with varying abilities in order to permit comparisons. A careful record was kept of their ages, musical experiences, major instruments (voice, piano, violin, and other orchestral instruments), amount of training, skill and technique, and theory grades.
Date: June 1951
Creator: Commander, Margie M. (Margie Marie)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Trends and Techniques of Public Relations in Music Education (open access)

Trends and Techniques of Public Relations in Music Education

The purpose of this study represents an illustration of the techniques of public relations in music education as well as the urgent necessity for their development. Especially during; this era, American public schools are faced with the problem of providing a balanced curriculum whose chief interests lie in subjects of a scientific nature. Educators feel that this type of training is not only necessary to keep the nation ahead or equated with others scientifically, but that it is inevitably the best in preparing the student for adulthood. Public school music, in many instances, has not lived up to its responsibilities in providing the kinds of music and the type of community service it should render. Consequently, many educators feel justified in either reducing or eliminating fine arts programs in their schools. It is necessary, therefore, that the music educator study measures of encouraging musical growth in his environment, and this growth can be assured through a study of the techniques and tools of public relations.
Date: June 1963
Creator: Scott, Lamar H. (Lamar Houston)
System: The UNT Digital Library
Influences Seen in Prokofiev's Piano Style (open access)

Influences Seen in Prokofiev's Piano Style

The influence of existing musical trends is evident in almost every composer. Prokofiev entered the musical scene in Russia when Scriabin was the recognized leader in innovation. To understand fully the rapid popularity of Prokofiev one must be aware of the musical forces of his time, the circumstances leading up to them and their influence on Prokofiev. In the latter half of the nineteenth century there began a movement toward nationalism in music. Among the most important of these nationalistic countries were Bohemia and Russia. Composers deliberately drew their inspiration from the musical resources of their native country. From all that is known a native Russian music did not exist before the nineteenth century. The music enjoyed by the upper class and royalty had to be imported. In the eighteenth century this included Italian opera and in the beginning of the nineteenth century, French opera. Pianists such as Field, Mayer and von Henselt were popular as both teachers and performers.
Date: June 1970
Creator: Lewis, Ronald Edwin
System: The UNT Digital Library
An Evaluation of the Factors Involved in Program Building for the High School Chorus (open access)

An Evaluation of the Factors Involved in Program Building for the High School Chorus

It is the purpose of this study to set forth facts, substantiated by investigation of authoritative sources, proving that all selections used on the concert program of a high school chorus should serve a permanently constructive purpose toward the musical growth of the students. The first part of the thesis concerns those elements which have to be taken into consideration in teaeching any high school music group These are: 1. The psychological make-up of the group in regard to age and physical development. 2. The psychological make-up of its audience. 3. The existing level of musical skill of the group as a whole. 4. The existing degree of aesthetic appreciation of the chorus and its audience. The latter part of the work specifies the aims in vocal instruction of the high school choral course. These include sight reading, breathing, tone, pitch, diction, phrasing, and interpretation. It also attempts to demonstrate how the preparation of a concert program serves to accomplish these aims. This involves a critical evaluation of each number on a proposed program in reference to the following points: 1. Psychological reception by the group and its audience. 2. Its contribution toward improved aesthetic discrimination on the part of …
Date: June 1949
Creator: Williams, Bert Charles, 1916-
System: The UNT Digital Library