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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Jonathan Harvey's string quartets

Abstract

dc:description

This study examines Jonathan Harvey’s core musical processes and spiritual background through his four string quartets—No. 1 (1977), No. 2 (1988), No. 3 (1995), and No. 4 (2003). The paper surveys Harvey’s eclectic background in religion and musical education, and several trends with which he is associated—serialism, spectralism, electronic music, and spiritual music. Four chapters are dedicated to discussing unique analytical aspects of each quartet. The First Quartet’s multiple structural levels show a Schenkerian global approach. At the local level, a governing principle of integral serialism is found. The Second Quartet’s primary materials derive from a melodic chain. The Third Quartet’s instrumental writing is inspired by electronic music and shows Harvey’s evolution in timbre. The use of a symmetrical harmonic field symbolizes a floating state and freedom from obsession. The Fourth Quartet, one of his most representative pieces incorporating electronics, uses several processing techniques (amplification, spatialization, harmonizers, time stretching, and granulation) signifying the ambiguity of the live sound source. The final chapter investigates Harvey’s ideas of spirituality. Some analytical findings are shown to have direct parallels with tenets of Buddhism.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
A.Mus.D.
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Music
Grantor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Year dc:date
2013

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Seo, Ju Ri
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Tharp, Reynold
  • Magee, Gayle S.
  • Lund, Erik R.
  • Heiles, William H.

Subjects

dc:subject × 23

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright 2013 Ju Ri Seo
Language dc:language
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/44243
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/44243

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Base URL
www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Seo, Ju Ri. Jonathan Harvey's string quartets. Dissertation thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2142/44243