Jalbert, Pierre2011-07-252011-07-252010Goddard, Christopher. ""Songs of Arion" for symphony orchestra (2010)." (2010) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/62162">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/62162</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/62162This work for symphony orchestra is written in memory of the composer Gustav Mahler (1860--1911), in honor of both the 150 th anniversary of his birth and the approaching 100th anniversary of his death. As such, it traces his creative development---in an extremely condensed fashion---through veiled references to his first through his last symphonic utterance. My piece takes the form of a loose palindrome: two larger, gradually intensifying sections flank a shorter middle section that represents an immense orchestral swell. The principal dramatic impetus comes from the conflict between the obsessive recurrence of a single pitch and the music's repeated attempts to achieve freedom from it; a conflict of linearity vs. circularity, propulsion vs. stasis. Ultimately the work takes the shape of a kaleidoscope, with textures and patterns in constant flux around a single, unchanging pitch at its center. The piece utilizes a standard orchestral instrumentation: 3 flutes, 3 oboes, 3 clarinets, 3 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, 3 percussion, harp, piano/celeste, and strings.application/pdfengCopyright 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.MusicThesisTHESIS MUSIC 2010 GODDARD