An overview of the choral music of Michael McGlynn with a conductor's preparatory guide to his Celtic Mass

Michael McGlynn, Irish composer and director of the choral group Anúna, is a fresh and engaging voice in the world of choral music. This paper delves into the sacred and secular works of Michael McGlynn to yield a clearer understanding of the style of this unique composer and the performance issues inherent in McGlynn’s Celtic Mass, an extended work for chorus, strings, harp, and percussion. Correspondence with the composer and examination of a representative cross section of his works revealed a number of influences, from Medieval music to the traditional music of McGlynn’s Irish homeland. McGlynn’s compositions range from chant settings dominated by drones and open sonorities to highly chromatic works. Rhythm is an important component of the composer’s works, and development occurs primarily through repetition. His Celtic Mass, a compilation of individual works in both Latin and Gaelic, was analyzed to create a guide for the conductor’s preparation of this work. The analysis highlights the structure, motivic development, use of fifths, and treatment of modes. Examination of these items showed a tendency toward tonic-dominant opposition, both altered and unaltered, as well as a predominance of development through repetition. In addition, McGlynn often employs modes, modal mixtures, or combinations of modes that create new scales. Overall it was found that McGlynn does not rely on one compositional voice or formula, but rather a number of techniques and styles. This tendency creates an interesting diversity in his music and should make his output of interest to the choral world.

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

2010

Author dc:creator

• Marrolli, Karen

• McGlynn
• Anuna
• choral
• Celtic Mass

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Identifier

etd-11082010-131647
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/535

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.lsu.edu:gradschool_dissertations-1534