Dissertation Index
Author: Herlin, Thomas R. Title: Carl Ruggles and the Viennese Tradition: A Comparative Analysis Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Begun: July 1996 Completed: April 2000 Abstract: The music of Carl Ruggles (1876-1971) is most often associated with that of the other American members of the International Composers' Guild (1921- 27). The Guild promoted new music of an experimental nature, which is difficult to place in any compositional "camp." The resultant association of this music, while warranted socially and historically, is unwarranted musically. The purpose of this study is to suggest a different association--that between Ruggles' music and the so-called atonal works of the second Viennese school. Four specific works are compared and contrasted: Ruggles' Men and Mountains (1924) and Portals (1925), Arnold Schoenberg's Five Pieces for Orchestra, op. 16 (1909), and Anton von Webern's Six Pieces for Orchestra, op. 6 (1909). In order to justify associations between Ruggles and the second Viennese school, four different aspects of the music are examined: pitch organization, texture, rhythm, and form. Keywords: Ruggles, Schoenberg, Webern, Atonality, Analysis, Second Viennese School, International Composers' Guild, Men and Mountains, Portals TOC: I. Introduction: From Charles to Carl A Comparison of the Music A Note on the Scores II. Pitch Content Generalization to Pitch Class Comparison of Completed Aggregates Possible Precedents Analysis of Pitch-Class Data III. Texture Thickness Density Tone Color Loudness Patterns Conclusion IV. Rhythm Tempo Indications Meters and Trends in Beat Division Other Aspects Affecting Rhythm Conclusion V. Form Form in Ruggles' Men and Mountains and Portals Form in Schoenberg's Five Pieces, op. 16, and Webern's Six Pieces, op. 6 Trends in Structure VI. Summary and Conclusion Carl Ruggles: An Inheritor of the European Tradition? Appendix A: Lists of Completed Aggregates Completed Aggregates in Ruggles' Men and Mountains and Portals Some Completed Aggregates in Schoenberg's Five Pieces, op. 16, and Webern's Six Pieces, op. 6 Appendix B: Piano-Score Reductions (Ruggles) Appendix C: Piano-Score Reductions (Schoenberg and Webern) Appendix D: Pitch-Class Statistics Appendix E: Lists of Sizes and Types of Chords Sizes and Types of Chords in Ruggles' Men and Mountains and Portals Sizes and Types of Chords in Schoenberg's Five Pieces, op. 16, and Webern's Six Pieces, op. 6 Bibliography Contact: Thomas R. Herlin 13521 Delphi Drive Littleton, CO 80124-2803 tel: +1 303-790-2813 herlin@diac.com |