Grand Variations for large orchestra

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dc.contributor.advisorGottschalk, Arthur W.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberJalbert, Pierreen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberLoewen, Peteren_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSperandio, Christopheren_US
dc.creatorZajicek, Danielen_US
dc.date.accessioned2012-09-06T04:20:10Zen_US
dc.date.accessioned2012-09-06T04:20:12Zen_US
dc.date.available2012-09-06T04:20:10Zen_US
dc.date.available2012-09-06T04:20:12Zen_US
dc.date.created2012-05en_US
dc.date.issued2012-09-05en_US
dc.date.submittedMay 2012en_US
dc.date.updated2012-09-06T04:20:12Zen_US
dc.description.abstractGrand Variations is a work for large orchestra built on an original theme and six variations. My primary concerns when composing were communication, continuity, and distortion. To musically communicate an idea repetition is essential, and the type of repetition presented in theme and variations provided what I was looking for. In addition, the fact that the theme will be repeated over and over leads to a built in continuity. The final concern, distortion, may be achieved by pulling away from a more straightforward presentation of the thematic material. Two additional elements played a large role in the work—cyclic forms, and quantum physics. The composition Déserts by Edgard Varese, and the jazz work Nefertiti by Wayne Shorter, both contain strong cyclic features. Nefertiti uses the same melody repeated over and over, while Déserts, on the other hand, repeatedly presents the same musical gestures, and sound objects, but with slight changes to achieve its own cyclic sound world. These two works framed the way that I approached variations, yet are at odds with each other. Through my reading of quantum physics, I found a way to join the two into a working structure, and the book, The Grand Design, by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow, helped me to do it. Because of this, I decided early on to honor that influence, and the title Grand Variations reflect that.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationZajicek, Daniel. "Grand Variations for large orchestra." (2012) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/64666">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/64666</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.slug123456789/ETD-2012-05-131en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/64666en_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.subjectThemeen_US
dc.subjectVariationsen_US
dc.subjectQuantumen_US
dc.subjectPhysicsen_US
dc.subjectOrchestraen_US
dc.subjectRepetitionen_US
dc.subjectCommunicationsen_US
dc.subjectContinuityen_US
dc.subjectCompositionen_US
dc.titleGrand Variations for large orchestraen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.materialTexten_US
thesis.degree.departmentMusicen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineMusicen_US
thesis.degree.grantorRice Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Musical Artsen_US
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