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A performer's guide to Gwyneth Walker's settings of poetry by Lucille Clifton- No Ordinary Woman! and Three Songs for Lucille

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

No Ordinary Woman! is atypical of Walker’s style in that the composer employs jazz elements as the building blocks for this composition. From ballads to scat singing, each song is representative of a different style of jazz. The cycle, consisting of five songs, explores the poet’s journey of contemplation regarding various aspects of her life, predominantly her physical appearance. In No Ordinary Woman! and Three Songs for Lucille, the poet reflects on and ultimately celebrates her physical appearance. This document contains information about the lives and works of composer Gwyneth Walker and poet Lucille Clifton, the commissions, premieres, compositional processes, and comments regarding performance issues are included. A discussion of each poem and performance suggestions for each song in No Ordinary Woman! and Three Songs for Lucille is provided. Appendices include a discography of recordings currently available, a current listing of song cycles in the composer’s catalogue, and a list of current publishers of the composer’s songs.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Music
Grantor
Music
Year dc:date.available
2011

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Preston, Ebony Darshay

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • unrestricted
  • Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:repository.lsu.edu:gradschool_dissertations-1366

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Lousiana State University
Base URL
repository.lsu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Preston, Ebony Darshay. A performer's guide to Gwyneth Walker's settings of poetry by Lucille Clifton- No Ordinary Woman! and Three Songs for Lucille. Dissertation thesis, Music, 2011. https://doi.org/10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.367