Music ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-28-2026

Abstract

This thesis presents a contextual and sonic analysis of John Coltrane’s album First Meditations recorded in 1965. I use methods based on Dora Hanninen’s A Theory of Music Analysis to examine sonic and contextual aspects of Coltrane’s playing, including varying timbres, rhythmic tendencies, and contextual relationships in musical material. I consider pitch material from the perspective of “outside” playing, rather than traditional harmonic analysis. Considering areas of pitch, rhythm, and timbre allows the visualization of these features across each track in the album in five musical “plots.”

Degree Name

Music

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Department of Music

First Committee Member (Chair)

Richard Hermann

Second Committee Member

Ashley Kelly

Third Committee Member

David Bashwiner

Language

English

Keywords

Music, Coltrane, Analysis, Jazz, Theory

Document Type

Thesis

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