Master of Music (MM), Bowling Green State University, 2020, Music Composition

The drawing cycle is the foundation of archery. It determines where the arrow hits. An Arrow is a depiction of an archer drawing a bow and releasing the string, and the arrow hitting the target. The structure of the piece consists of seven sections, each of a different duration and energy: set up, draw, anchor, transfer (aiming), expansion, release, and hitting the target. The piece is a reflection on human anatomy and the mental status required when drawing a bow. The ways in which the body engages with the bow are seen in the orchestration within each section. For instance, the first section contains upward, fast-moving gestures. These reveal the motion of the arm being raised. The instruments featured are primarily woodwinds, as the first step doesn't require too much strength from an archer. The first section, set up, lays a foundation for the remainder of the piece by introducing the main motives which consist of two notes first played by the oboes. The draw section is fast and energetic, and is followed by the anchor section, which is short and featuring the brass and bass instruments. The transfer (aiming) section is the longest and most complex section, since it is the most important step during the entire drawing cycle. New motives enter the piece and are combined with motives that have appeared previously. This is the phase on which archers spend most of their time during the drawing cycle. It challenges an archer's mental strength. The expansion and release sections act as a transition which lead to the final, culminating section in which the arrow strikes the target. The music's motion is halted by an eighth rest, after which all instruments loudly declare a brash chord only to be cut off again as the piece abruptly ends.

Committee: Christopher Dietz Dr. (Advisor); Marilyn Shrude Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Music