Dissertation Index
Author: Barna, Alyssa Title: Examining Contrast in Popular and Rock Music Institution: Eastman School of Music Begun: August 2017 Completed: June 2019 Abstract: The balance of similarity and contrast is essential to the structure and coherence of music. Analytical treatment of similarity in music theoretical and analytical scholarship has been thorough, whereas the study of contrast and difference remains somewhat undefined and informal. This dissertation provides two analytical tools for analyzing contrast: the first, in Chapter 2, is rooted in techniques and terminology adapted from color theory that unfold dynamically in time. The second methodology, in Chapter 3, takes a static approach, analyzing a complete song and exploring the most contrasting musical parameters and domains. The repertoire for this study is popular music construed broadly—beginning with classic artists from the 1960's through Top-40 music released in 2018. Chapter 4 extends the tools to an unusual formal layout described as "modular form," in which songs that do not conform to prototypical formal types are analyzed with respect to their (often highly) contrasting elements. Keywords: Music scholarship; Modular form; Musical parameters; Musical domains TOC: Chapter 1: Introduction—How is Contrast Defined? Chapter 2: Analyzing Contrast Dynamically Chapter 3: Analyzing Contrast Statically—A Model Chapter 4: Modular Form Conclusion Contact: Alyssa Barna (barna@umn.edu) |