"Raegal" for chorus and orchestra. [Original composition]

Raegal, for chorus and orchestra, is a musically sophisticated setting of a very simple text. The first and third movements are based on the same harmonic structure of pitch centers alternating between the tritone creating a rather atonal bitonality. Clusters are utilized as important chordal textures. These outer two movements are both more percussive overall than the second movement, necessitated by the nature of the text in addition to being a balancing factor of the entire work. The second movement also employs the use of tonality more so than the outer movements, again, because of the nature of the text as well as to provide contrast. The most basic pitch center throughout the entire piece is "D", shifting up a whole step to "E" (and remaining there to the end) at the point where Raegal's tears are turned to golden nuggets by the Great Spirit-Lord. This event elevates the level of the text to a mystical and mythical level; the music enhances this by rising to another pitch center as well. "Raegal" is an attempt to capture musically all of the moods and imagery of the poem: war, fear, peacefulness with nature, nurturing love, strength, heroism, and the magical quality characteristic of legends of the American Indian.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Musical Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music

Grantor

Rice University

Year dc:date.issued

1991

Author dc:creator

• Witherspoon, Ann Rivers

• Music
• Folklore
• Communication and the arts
• Social sciences
• Native Americans

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/103408

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/103408