Music Theses and Dissertations
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Item Four X Three: Unconventional Contemporary Chamber Music Trios Featuring Solo Trumpet(2024) Rye, Dylan; Gekker, Paul C; Music; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Although the trumpet has been largely absent from the instrumental color palette used by composers of chamber music, the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have spawned new conceptions of the trumpet in the context of the chamber music trio. Recent chamber music features extremely diverse instrumental combinations, producing novel compositional effects and technical demands on performers. A study of developing ideas about the trumpet in the chamber music environment tracks the trumpets’ growing acceptance in the chamber music sphere and its recent liberation from the confines of the brass family. Analysis of two twentieth century chamber trios with solo trumpet shows that advancements in trumpet design and technique have made the instrument suitable in many instrumental contexts, and that modern composers have used it to great effect in “neo-tonal” music. Examination of two twenty-first century chamber trios with unorthodox orchestration tracks contemporary composers' evolving use of the trumpet.Item 21st CENTURY AMERICAN TRUMPET SONATAS: THE PERFORMANCE PRACTICE AND PEDAGOGICAL INFLUENCES OF FOUR SONATAS(2024) Rudy, Brennan; Gekker, Paul C; Music; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Sonatas for trumpet and piano have played an impactful role in the development of the trumpet as a recital instrument. Thorvald Hansen’s 1903 sonata for cornet and piano was the earliest sonata for our instrument, later leading to the first two sonatas for the Bb trumpet and piano in 1939 by German composer Paul Hindemith and Soviet composer Boris Asafiev. The first American sonata for trumpet and piano was written by Harold Shapero in 1940 and was dedicated to his teacher, Aaron Copland. These early sonatas led to other prominent 20th Century trumpet sonatas that were written by American composers Kent Kennan, Halsey Stevens, and Eric Ewazen. As a modern solo instrument, performance and pedagogical practices for the trumpet are strongly based on compositions of the 20th Century or earlier. As we are now almost 25 years into the 21st Century, trumpet sonatas and their composers have continued to evolve and create a lasting impact on the use of the trumpet and its pedagogy. This dissertation will discuss the pedagogical impacts and musical developments of several 21st Century sonatas for trumpet and piano. Accompanying this dissertation are four recordings of some of the most recently published trumpet sonatas from 2015-2023, each by American composers of diverse backgrounds. The four recorded sonatas previously had very few or no professional recordings and exemplify modern developments on traits originally established by composers of early trumpet sonatas. Through this dissertation and accompanying recordings, I hope to encourage the use of modern trumpet sonatas for application in pedagogical instruction, performances, and college and university juries and entrance auditions.Item Preserving the Narrative of 20th Century Art Song: A Guide for Instrumental Transcriptions of Vocal Music(2020) Spence, Luke Jonathan; Gekker, Paul C; Music; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Art song, by nature, is a combination of media: text and music. Composers map these two domains onto each other using established correspondences known as conceptual metaphors. The outcome, known as a conceptual blend, manifests a different cognitive perception than if the domains are experienced separately. The purpose of this dissertation is to keep these blends intact when performing instrumental transcriptions of vocal music. Without the ability to utter words, the performer must consider how they can bring life to the narratives through their instrument. A comprehensive set of performance practice guidelines are discussed, largely for practical application to the trumpet. Accompanying this dissertation are seventeen video recorded transcriptions of 20th century art song from German, French, and American composers, which implement a solution to be used along with these guidelines: subtitle translations. The addition of subtitles not only allows for the audience to experience the narratives in real-time with the music, but also creates an opportunity for instrumentalists to perform vocal repertoire that has yet to be explored in great depth. The expressive atonal and twelve-tone works of the Second Viennese School, experimental and Transcendental works of Charles Ives, deep Symbolist poetry set by Lili Boulanger, and evocative, text-driven works of Libby Larsen can be brought to life in compelling ways with their narratives intact.Item SELECTED WORKS OF COMPOSERS ASSOCIATED WITH HOWARD UNIVERSITY(2018) Royal, Guericke Christopher; Gekker, Paul C; Music; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Throughout its over 100 year history, Howard University has produced and attracted many talented composers of many musical genres. Limiting this project to any one genre or focus would have lessened the overall impact of the music they created and the inspiration that has been a lauded part of the institution. The project will demonstrate the various harmonic, melodic, rhythmic and emotional contributions of the selected composers through interpretation of their music on the trumpet. Composers have been connected to the university in three general ways: as students, alumni and faculty; as commissioned artists; and through the performance of their works by notable performers associated with Howard. The pieces selected for this project exemplify a wide range of musical expressions and compositional techniques, and hopefully have been presented in a way that allows the emotional impact of each piece to resonate in a unique fashion. The selected works tended to fall into the categories of A. Trumpet and Brass Works B. Spirituals/ Meditational/ Religious Works C. Popular and Jazz Pieces D. Organ or other Instrumental Works E. Works of Historical Reference or Significance In some cases, certain pieces may be categorized across multiple categories (e.g. an organ piece based on religious material). As this was also a recording project, great care was taken during the recording process to capture as much emotional content as possible through stereo microphone techniques and the use of high quality equipment. The group of works examined and set for the CD is but one example of Howard University’s musical legacy. Additional collections of selected works of composers associated with Howard University could, and should, be created by others to further reinterpret more of this underperformed, yet highly valuable music.Item A Performance Study of Contemporary Chamber Music for Trumpet and Strings(2014) Yager, Harold E; Gekker, Chris; Music; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The twentieth and twenty-first centuries have had a rekindling of the trumpet/strings chamber relationship that was once common in the baroque era. Not only is new music being composed, performers sometimes present works in a chamber environment that were originally intended for trumpet and string orchestra or works that did not originally include trumpet. This provides new life to the music, gives audiences the chance to hear something different in a trumpet recital, and allows the trumpet player firsthand experience with music he or she may have never had otherwise. Between new music and the reshaping of older works, now is an excellent time for trumpet players to expand their horizons. First Recital: January 30, 2012 Gildenhorn Recital Hall Gillingham: Tourbillon Cooman: Sun Songs Bartók: Selections from 44 Duos for Two Violins Ewazen: Trio Second Recital: February 20, 2012 Ulrich Recital Hall Presser: Three Duets Cooman: Chorale and Courante Koetsier: Duo giocoso Cooman: Lyric Trio Third Recital: December 9, 2013 Gildenhorn Recital Hall Hovhaness: Haroutian Ewazen: Quintet Taggart: Song at Sunset Bartholomew: Summer Suite This performance study has had tremendous positive effects. Most importantly, it has given me knowledge and recital suggestions that I will be able to offer my students. The ability to broaden their experiences as I have done is something I look forward to and believe to be extremely important. Students must learn to always be exploring different ways to reach their audiences, and they must be comfortable in all types of settings. Trumpet players too often do not expand their performances out of the realm of brass, robbing themselves of great experiences.Item BROTHERS IN ARMS AND ART: AN EXPLORATION OF THE HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRUMPET AND PERCUSSION, FROM THE BATTLEFIELD TO THE RECITAL HALL(2014) Madsen, Brent; Gekker, Chris; Music; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)My dissertation recitals focus on music written or arranged for trumpet and percussion instruments. The three programs are conceived in such a way that each recital stands on its own as a successful concert. Each program begins with a piece of early music, the oldest of which is from the 13th century. In an attempt to highlight the rich history of music for the trumpet and kettledrum, I have included fanfare works for each recital. The fanfares I have selected are written by some of the most notable composers in history, such as Richard Wagner, Claudio Monteverdi, and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. In contrast to these brilliant fanfares, the first half of each recital includes a song, originally written for voice and piano, arranged for muted trumpet and marimba. It is my hope that the inclusion of these songs in my programs will help expand the recital repertoire for trumpeters to include these and other such works. The first half of each recital ends with a lengthy modern work for trumpet and percussion. My programs include two premieres, one of which is a work for trumpet and programmed drums composed by myself. The modern works featured on my programs often emphasize the wide range of tonal colors available to both percussionists and trumpeters. Each recital will end with a jazz-oriented piece that will include improvisation. The diversity presented in these programs is a testament to how deep and broad the relationship is that exists between trumpet and percussion. Another goal in this type of programming, in addition to creating an interesting and enjoyable set of music, is to showcase my own versatility as a performer of a wide variety of genres.