Unfolding in One Breath: Exploring Free-form and Continuous Narratives in Violin Repertoire

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation is to provide further context for the three-recitalperformance project by Yuan-ju Liu, which examines single-movement violin repertoire. Titled Unfolding in One Breath, the project centers on violin works characterized by free-form narratives and continuous musical structures within a single-movement framework. The three themed performances—Poèmes and Ballades, Dramatic Monologues, Fantasies and Popular Sounds—each explore diverse violin repertoire while maintaining the unifying criterion of the single- movement form within the themes. This dissertation seeks to accomplish three main objectives. First, it aims to explore the evolving desire to experiment and adapt to modern culture and audience expectations, making classical programming accessible and relatable to the community. Second, it examines the historical and compositional backgrounds of each work, with particular attention to the influence of the composers’ creative processes. Third, it offers a performer’s perspective on preparation and interpretation of each performance and includes surveys gathered from audiences across the three performances. Video recordings for this dissertation can be accessed in the Digital Repository at the University of Maryland (DRUM).