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herbstlied

Damann, Benjamin A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1615589042543498

Abstract Details

2021, Master of Music (MM), Bowling Green State University, Music Composition.
herbstlied or "autumn song" is a composition for two percussionists, two pianos, and fixed media. This work explores how bipolar disorder and subtle, seasonal light fluctuations can affect one's emotional state and sense of stability (or lack thereof). Reconciling ever-fluctuating emotional states with an exploration of timbre and colors, herbstlied formally consists of three modal areas, further subdivided into various textural spaces. The distinctions between these modal areas are obfuscated by assigning each player a partition of the composite and slowly interpolating between the modal areas at different rates. The sound of the ensemble is further augmented through the use of a multitude of implements, including glass bottles, EBows, protractors, and various sticks, mallets, and brushes. Emotional fragility is represented in herbstlied through a limited dynamic range of pppp - p and a slow, nebulous tempo. This nearly constant state of dynamic frailty is punctuated and foiled by two aggressive ff outbursts at the end of the work. By filtering out the central bandwidth of the dynamic range, the ensemble is forced to operate between two dynamic poles, gesturally and literally representing a bipolar relationship. I sincerely hope that herbstlied can be my small contribution toward greater mental health awareness and acceptance in the contemporary music and academic communities. Moreover, it is a sincere expression of gratitude to my wife, Autumn, who acts as my emotional ground in the times that I am most intensely affected by the bipolar phenomena explored in this work.
Mikel Kuehn , PhD (Advisor)
Laurello Michael, AD (Committee Member)
Lillios Elainie, DMA (Committee Member)
23 p.
Music
music composition; electroacoustic music composition; percussion; piano; electronics; timbre; interpolation; chamber music; chamber ensemble; quartet; small ensemble; contemporary; contemporary music; new music

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Damann, B. A. (2021). herbstlied [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1615589042543498

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Damann, Benjamin. herbstlied. 2021. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1615589042543498.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Damann, Benjamin. "herbstlied." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1615589042543498

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1615589042543498
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© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.