Abstract
dc:description.abstractSea-Crosser is a forty-five-minute cantata telling the story of a Jewish immigrant who fled Russia to escape the persecution in the early 20th century. Adapting material from his autobiography, this work evokes the emotional life, sacrifice, and travels of my great-great-grandfather, Alexander Ziskind Gurwitz, the sea-crosser. Interludes in Yiddish hallmark this English language score of the immigrant experience to universally present its theme – surviving major life transitions. His life and travels are outlined in his autobiography, Memories of Two Generations – A Yiddish Life in Russia and Texas. The book details his experience from the Orthodox Jewish community in Southeastern Ukraine to San Antonio, Texas – as a part of the Galveston Immigration Movement. The music consists of a predominantly contemporary classical style, featuring large choral sections and Klezmer themes. It is a great honor to set my great-great-grandfather’s story to music, and I hope the composition conveys much of the emotion and sentiment from his tumultuous journey and incredible life story.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Music
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Music
- Grantor
- The University of Texas at Austin
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2024
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Gurwitz, Ethan Samuel
- Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
-
- Sharlat, Yevgeniy, 1977-
- Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Thomas, Omar
Subjects
dc:subject × 7Rights
- Language dc:language.iso
- English
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Identifier URI
- https://doi.org/10.26153/tsw/59802
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/132463