Date of Award
Spring 2020
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
School
Music
Committee Chair
Christopher Goertzen
Committee Chair School
Music
Committee Member 2
Jonathan Yarrington
Committee Member 2 School
Music
Committee Member 3
Kimberley Davis
Committee Member 3 School
Music
Committee Member 4
Maryann Kyle
Committee Member 4 School
Music
Committee Member 5
Douglas Rust
Committee Member 5 School
Music
Abstract
This dissertation presents a two-fold discourse, first to provide a contextual source for singers interested in 20th century composer Louise Talma, and second to provide an analytical guide to Talma’s adaption of Wallace Stevens’ poem Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird for voice, oboe, and piano. Though Talma’s composition never became renowned, it is both a commendable achievement and a highly sophisticated work, interweaving musical creativity with the extra-musical stimuli borne from the personal experiences of the composer.
The body of the document will feature four main chapters. The first chapter will introduce composer Louise Talma, the second will introduce poet Wallace Stevens. The third chapter will discuss the connection between the two artists, and the fourth chapter will provide the analytical guide for Thirteen Ways. Supplementary appendices include interview transcripts, an IRB letter, a letter of permission from MacDowell Colony, and an engraved copy of the score. A list of musical examples is provided.
Copyright
Johnson, 2020
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Meredith Melvin, "A Performance Guide to Wallace Stevens' Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird as Set by Louise Talma" (2020). Dissertations. 1787.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/1787