The Movement of New Tonality: An Analysis of Robert Beaser’s Piano Concerto

dc.contributor.advisorLavenda, Richarden_US
dc.creatorMcKiggan, Christopher Janwongen_US
dc.date.accessioned2019-05-17T16:25:59Zen_US
dc.date.available2019-05-17T16:25:59Zen_US
dc.date.created2018-12en_US
dc.date.issued2018-12-11en_US
dc.date.submittedDecember 2018en_US
dc.date.updated2019-05-17T16:25:59Zen_US
dc.description.abstractRobert Beaser (b.1954) was one of the first composers of his generation to be labeled as a “New Tonalist” and was one of the first to move away from the avant-garde musical orthodoxy of the mid-20th century. “New tonality” is a term that was first used in a publication that was co-edited by Beaser and was used to attempt to define a group of American composers who were moving away from the avant-garde musical styles during the 1970s and 1980s. My document focuses on Beaser’s Piano Concerto as a prime example of his compositional practices. It also addresses some of the issues raised by the definition of the term “New Tonality”, and how this relates to, or does not relate to, Beaser. In addition to combing through reviews and publications contemporaneous with the Piano Concerto, my research is deeply indebted to extensive personal interviews with Beaser. These provide insight into his own philosophy of composition and his compositional process. I also explore Beaser’s background and provide context for Beaser’s perspective about the musical environment at that time. The history of the creation of the Piano Concerto is also explored, and the paper includes an in-depth theoretical analysis of the work. In particular, there will be particular attention paid to how Beaser both creates and subverts expectations through his use of tonal areas. In my conclusion, I state that the work is a great piano concerto that is also a major representative of this movement to recover tonality, despite the issues I have with the definition of “New Tonality” itself.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationMcKiggan, Christopher Janwong. "The Movement of New Tonality: An Analysis of Robert Beaser’s Piano Concerto." (2018) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/105870">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/105870</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/105870en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsCopyright 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.en_US
dc.subjectRobert Beaseren_US
dc.subjectChristopher Janwong McKigganen_US
dc.subjectPiano Concertoen_US
dc.subjectNew Tonalityen_US
dc.subjecten_US
dc.titleThe Movement of New Tonality: An Analysis of Robert Beaser’s Piano Concertoen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentPiano Performanceen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineMusicen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.majorPiano Performanceen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Musical Artsen_US
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