Date of Award

12-2006

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.M.

Degree Program

Music

Department

Music

Major Professor

Sieg, Jerry

Second Advisor

Taylor, Charles

Third Advisor

Williams, Robin

Abstract

Möbius: for Orchestra attempts to explore an alternative use of the material that typically appears in the development section of a piece composed in sonata form. By using the modified themes in the recapitulation rather than disregarding them entirely, the A-B-A' form of the basic sonata becomes more of an A-B-(A'+B'). Much like the mathematical function this piece is named after – a loop whose ending is never identical to its beginning and whose mirror-image lacks symmetry – the listener is brought to a new ending with familiar, non-repeated material. Many times throughout the piece, the listener will hear up to three tonal centers at once, though differences in range, color, texture and dynamics give the effect of a single tonal center with a certain amount of unease. Ostinatos and long notes also help to dissuade the ear from settling on a comfortable sound, ending with uncertainty, much like it began.

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

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