Date of Graduation

5-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Music (MM)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Music

Advisor/Mentor

Mueller, Robert K.

Committee Member

Kahng, Er-Gene

Second Committee Member

Hertzog, Jacob

Keywords

Classical Music; Folk Music

Abstract

Plains Minimalism is a set of four musical scores that seeks to reconcile classical and folk music styles in a semi-improvisatory style. In each piece, the musicians are asked to interact with each other in different ways, alternating between a specifically-notated classical score and esoteric text descriptions. Additionally, this body of work includes instruments traditionally associated with American folk music, including banjo, manolin, and acoustic guitar. Through both the textural and notational fusion, these pieces are designed to be performed by musicians with variable degrees of reading ability, thus widening access to traditional classical music spaces.

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