Browsing by Author "Geissler, Maxwell"

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    From Analysis to Artistry: Expanding Interpretive Possibilities through Score Study and Artistic Decision-Making
    (2024-04-18) Geissler, Maxwell; Brandt, Anthony
    A crucial skill for the engaging performance of Western music involves dramatizing the form and rhetoric found within a composition. Here, traditional notation is an incomplete guide, leaving elements of tension, motive, structural narrative, and character largely unspecified. As a result, analysis of the score is an essential part of developing an interpretation: just as an actor will study the plot, motivation, and character arc in preparing for a role, score study helps the performer make local decisions with respect to the whole, revealing significant moments for potential expression and artistry. This thesis advocates for an integrated approach towards decision making that deliberately hones musical intuition by drawing connections between the tensions present in sound production and uniting them with aspects of compositional tension. Building on Donald Barra’s book The Dynamic Performance: A Performer's Guide to Musical Expression and Interpretation, this document explores how to use score study to thoughtfully expand the number of artistic choices available to a performer. The thesis posits median energy as a way of describing the general mood and character of a composition, against which deviations – such as harmonic surprises and contrapuntal complexities – are calibrated. Spanning from small-scale to large-scale decisions, this paper stresses the importance of putting technical choices into context to build a cohesive overarching narrative. In essence, it encourages a more robust connection between analytical techniques and instrumental study as a means to sharpen musical intuition.