Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Semester of Degree Completion
2001
Thesis Director
Peter Hesterman
Abstract
This thesis consists of the composition, Symphony In One Movement, accompanied by an analytical study. The piece is composed for large orchestra and has a duration of twelve minutes. It comprises three connected but distinct sections, whose contrasts suggest individual movements. Each section is based on a traditional formal structure: sonata, passacaglia, and rondo-variations. The intention was to acknowledge the traditional symphony through these formal structures while applying more modem approaches to elements such as harmony, melody, and rhythm.
The analytical study that follows the score provides insight to the compositional methods and tools which were employed in the work. Separate chapters discuss form, pitch content, melody, harmony, rhythm, and texture/orchestration/dynamics. I explain the essential building blocks of the music in detail and provide musical examples and form graphs to support the text. Through the analysis, I show how I achieved my goal of writing a musically satisfying piece which combines traditional and modern techniques of composing for the symphony orchestra. The thesis includes a compact disc which contains an electronic realization of the work, along with supplemental recordings of the examples found in the body of the paper.
Recommended Citation
Kostal, Jon, "Symphony in One Movement: Score and Analysis" (2001). Masters Theses. 2034.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/2034
