Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2010, Music

From humble beginnings, the concert wind bands at The Ohio State University developed from a utilitarian campus group to a nationally recognized program, serving the artistic, educational, and aesthetic needs of the students for whom it exists. From an educational standpoint, the Ohio State band program is not alone in this development. Across the country, similar wind groups began as makeshift military bands, fashioned loosely in the style of traveling professional groups from the early twentieth century. As these bands became established campus ensembles, eventually serving the academic needs of music departments and schools, directors began to selectively model their programs on the philosophical and educational trends of the day. Reflective of the national progression of the wind band movement, the Ohio State band directors demonstrated a desire to perform original and often contemporary literature, to replicate the instrumentation of other leading university band programs, and to seek performance opportunities that would bring recognition to the ensemble and attract talented prospective students. As opportunities and resources grew for band directors at Ohio State, value-based decisions were made, which resulted from the directors' own philosophical views on performance and education, limited only by the support and funding provided by campus administrators. By the 1960s, wind band advocates could no longer claim a professional disadvantage based on the limitations of repertoire or the curricular acceptance of bands at the post-secondary level. Rather, directors had to choose the path that their programs would take, determining the best balance for their institution, drawing from campus traditions and contemporary methodologies endorsed by leading professionals in their field. During this time at Ohio State, as well as at other institutions, long-established directors would build reputations of excellence and expectations of tradition with their band that wou (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Daryl Kinney PhD (Advisor); Patricia Flowers PhD (Committee Member); Russel Mikkelson PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Education; Education History; Music; Music Education; Performing Arts

Doctor of Musical Arts, The Ohio State University, 2007, Music

Dr. Donald E. McGinnis (born 1917) composed his Symphony for Band as his doctoral dissertation at the University of Iowa in 1953. A consideration of the harmonic language and structure of the piece reveals that it utilizes compositional techniques appropriate to the time and scope of the work. Its historical context in the development of the symphony for wind band/ensemble places it in a cohort of pieces by Morton Gould, Paul Hindemith and Vincent Persichetti. The 1977 published edition did not include a movement that appeared in McGinnis' original conception of the piece, the "Solemn Tune." That movement and an errata list for the 1977 score and parts represent an important step toward assuring this piece the place it deserves in the repertoire.

Committee: Donald Harris (Advisor) Subjects: Music

Doctor of Musical Arts, The Ohio State University, 2005, Music

Conductor, performer, and educator Dr. Donald E. McGinnis (b. 1917), directed The Ohio State University Concert Band from 1952 to 1979, played principal clarinet and flute in the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and was recognized as a distinguished educator by numerous musical organizations. A native of Barberton, Ohio, McGinnis graduated from Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he studied clarinet with George Waln. He received a Masters of Arts and PhD from the University of Iowa, studying clarinet with Himie Voxman. Flute studies included lessons with Robert Cavally and Maurice Sharp. McGinnis began his career at The Ohio State University in 1941 as Assistant Director of the Concert Band under Manley Whitcomb. He was appointed conductor of the Concert Band in 1952 and developed the program into one of the most recognized bands in the country. He gained prominence as a conductor and was elected to The American Bandmasters Association in 1956. McGinnis served as President in 1978, and was granted Honorary Life Membership in 1999. An accomplished clarinetist and flutist, McGinnis developed a reputation as a woodwind authority, and was a clinician and recording artist for the Selmer Company for thirty years. Considerable research for this document was obtained through oral interviews with McGinnis. Thirty-five colleagues and students of McGinnis contributed to this document through personal interviews and questionnaires. Other research materials were available through McGinnis' personal collection of concert programs and artifacts, The Ohio State University Archives, The Oberlin Archives, The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and The Ohio State University School of Music. In addition to a complete chronological study of McGinnis' professional activities, pedagogy and philosophies, this document presents an extensive repertoire list from The Ohio State University Concert Band, recording lists, instrumentation information, and pedagogical materials used in clinics and in the cl (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Katherine Jones (Advisor) Subjects: Music