Vocal Minimalism: An analysis and pedagogical approach to minimalist vocal techniques in new works for choir

Musical characteristics born out of the creation of Minimalism in the mid-1900s have been and continue to be important to the progression of contemporary-classical and commercial music. While the aesthetic movement in reaction to serialism and modernism has passed, musical aspects and techniques from minimalism have evolved alongside and within other musical styles. Repetition, focus on timbre, harmonic stasis, and slowly unfolding musical structures, and others, continue to be of use. These techniques present performance challenges, especially for singers, resulting in a small number of total works written for amateur choruses. This is further exacerbated by the lack of pedagogy for teaching minimalist techniques to non-professional singers, and in some cases, a disregard for the voice's limitations and opportunities. This document seeks to encourage increased inclusion of the human voice in choral compositions that utilize minimalist techniques through the commissioning of new works by Amy Gordon, Kota Hayton, Frank Nawrot, Jackson Thomas, and Leslee Wood. An analysis and pedagogical approach will be outlined to support choral conductors to successfully and sustainably teach minimalist vocal techniques

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Kansas

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Thomas, Jackson

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Garcia-Novelli, Eduardo

• Music
• Music education
• Musical composition
• choir
• minimalism
• pedagogy
• postminimalist
• techniques
• vocal

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright held by the author.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:19291

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/38747