Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
10-2014
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Program
Music
Advisor
David Olan
Advisor
Tania Leon
Subject Categories
Music
Keywords
contour, noise, Saariaho, tension, timbre, vibrato
Abstract
This dissertation is a study of Kaija Saariaho's 1988 vocal work From the Grammar of Dreams, with a focus on timbre. It begins with background on Saariaho, and research on timbre in music theory and psychoacoustics (Chapters 1 and 2). Chapter 3 shows how Saariaho manipulates timbre to expressive and formal ends in From the Grammar of Dreams, including creating timbral tension and release, applying Robert Morris' Contour Theory in its analyses. Chapter 4 then explores how the timbral transformations interact with non-timbral musical elements. The conclusion (Chapter 5) puts the compositional techniques of this work in the context of Saariaho's evolving style, and explores possibilities for future research.
Recommended Citation
Siegel, Karen J., "Timbral Transformations in Kaija Saariaho's From the Grammar of Dreams" (2014). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/383
Comments
This essay and the composition, "October in Galicia," together constitute the author's dissertation but are otherwise unrelated.