An original composition, Symphony No. 1, "Eustace the Monk" and compositional techniques used to elicit musical humor
Part I – “Symphony No. 1 – ‘Eustace the Monk’” is based on a figure from medieval legend. Although Eustace Busket is a historically documented person that lived c.1170-1217, the exact details of his life are shrouded in legend. Many of the details of the legend of Eustace were passed down through the anonymous Li Romans de Witasse Le Moine. The legendary tale of Eustace, who is reported to have learned black magic from the devil, became a Benedictine monk in order to corrupt the monastery, and later became a mercenary pirate, is the subject matter of this five-movement dramatic symphony. Part II – “Compositional Techniques Used to Elicit Musical Humor” employs an analytical approach to music adapted from various theories of humor. One of the primary theories adapted in this approach is Victor Raskin’s General Theory of Verbal Humor. Other theories adapted for this dissertation include superiority theory, incongruity theory, and computational-neural theory. The second part identifies specific musical humor devices used in the songs of "Weird Al" Yankovic.
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