Date of Award
Spring 4-19-2021
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Music
Department
School of Music
First Advisor
Stephen Lias
Second Advisor
Courtney Carney
Third Advisor
Samantha Inman
Fourth Advisor
Jamie Weaver
Abstract
This thesis analyzes three early Michael Torke “color” pieces, Ecstatic Orange, Bright Blue Music, and The Yellow Pages. This analysis provides insight into the compositional process of his early works, which continues to define his style today. Torke’s techniques include rhythmic motives and their variations, rhythmic canon, sectioning as the basis of form, and stratification. This thesis also provides an analytical notational device when defining a Rhythmic Canon Sequence or a Rhythmic Entrance Series. Through this analysis I demonstrate that all three pieces share these compositional techniques but are displayed in three very different pieces. I also explore the phenomenon of the golden section in each of the three pieces and describe the formal and aesthetic significance of the moments in all three pieces. In addition to this analysis, this thesis includes an original piece for symphonic band based upon the findings of my research, entitled Primary, Secondary, Tertiary. The title comes from different types of colors and is a tribute to Torke’s color titles. The analysis of my own work parallels the criteria applied to the Torke works.
Repository Citation
Fast, Aaron, "A RHYTHMIC ANALYSIS OF MICHAEL TORKE: THREE COLORS AND PRIMARY, SECONDARY, TERTIARY: AN ORIGINAL WORK FOR SYMPHONIC BAND" (2021). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 376.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/376
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
