Music ETDs

Publication Date

7-1-2011

Abstract

On a Rose of Coals is a single movement composed for string quartet and is approximately eleven minutes in duration. The work revolves around ostinati which incorporate rhythmic characteristics of West African and Balkan traditional music, against which are set melodies which emphasize the conflict between a bitonal and composite reading. Polyrhythmic structures and assymetrical rhythms dominate the work, and are used to effect many of the metric modulations between sections of the piece. The tension between a solid, relatively stable modal center and a melody which continually pulls toward disintegration of tonal stasis characterizes the work at large. The final section explores the inherent dissonances in a seemingly tonal ostinato, a discord which ultimately eclipses the sense of tonal and rhythmic stability entirely.

Degree Name

Music

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Department of Music

First Committee Member (Chair)

Herman, Richard

Second Committee Member

Kostur, Glenn

Language

English

Keywords

String quartets -- Scores, Scherzos (String quartet) -- Scores, Variations (String quartet) -- Scores

Document Type

Thesis

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