Award Date

5-1-2022

Degree Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

Department

Music

First Committee Member

Alfonse Anderson

Second Committee Member

Monica Williams

Third Committee Member

Linda Lister

Fourth Committee Member

Timothy Jones

Fifth Committee Member

Joe Bynum

Number of Pages

99

Abstract

Richard Danielpour’s (b.1956) song cycle Spirits in the Well (1998) uses four poems penned by Toni Morrison (1931-2019), specifically for Danielpour’s musical setting. Spirits in the Well remains virtually unknown to the general public and artists, as it has never been professionally recorded, despite having been frequently performed by famed soprano Jessye Norman (1945-2019). This document introduces singers to Spirits in the Well by offering a performance guide to the song cycle; it presents information on the text, musical style, structure, form, technical vocal challenges, and dramatic demands that this work places on a singer. Brief background information is provided for both Danielpour and Morrison, as well as a discussion of their contributions and writing styles within their respective fields. In addition, the song cycle’s premiere, performance history, and critical reception are examined.

Controlled Subject

Performing arts;Piano music;Morrison, Toni

Disciplines

Music

File Format

pdf

File Size

11600 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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