Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - Theses
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ItemHelen Gifford’s Fable (1967) for solo harp: A multivalent analysis( 2021)My research presents performance and recordings of solo harp compositions by Australian composers. The following composers are included in my performance portfolio: Eve Duncan, Jennifer Fowler, Helen Gifford, Peggy Glanville-Hicks, Alicia Grant, Miriam Hyde, Elena Kats-Chernin, and Johanna Selleck. There are three components to my research, the written dissertation, the performance portfolio, and a critical edition for publication. The focus of the written component of my portfolio is a comprehensive critical and analytical study of Helen Gifford’s "Fable," a significant work in the repertoire of Australian harp music that has not been studied before. I document Gifford’s compositional process in the creation of the harp solo and reveal her use of Walter Piston’s "Orchestration" as a guide. Study and performances of "Fable" have additionally created an original performance analysis that fuses Carlos Salzedo’s Instrumental Esthetics, and Rudolf Steiner’s eurythmy. A 60-minute audio recording of harp solos by eight Australian composers, including a new work I commissioned from Alicia Grant makes up my performance portfolio. Two of the compositions, have accompanying video recording (a total of 20-minutes), "Threaded Stars 2" (2006) by Jennifer Fowler and "Three pieces" (2017) by Alicia Grant. Two world-premiere public performances (and recording) of works for solo harp by Australian composers were also given: "Threaded Stars 2" (2006) by Jennifer Fowler, July 17, 2016, Brighton Town Hall, Brighton, VIC; and "Three Pieces" for harp (2017) by Alicia Grant, June 8, 2017, The Chapel, Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, Bunbury, WA. A further research outcome includes the creation of a new, annotated critical edition of Fable for publication. This undertaking has been supported by interviews and workshops with Gifford.
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ItemCarlos Salzedo’s New Harpism: Principles of Idiomatic Harp Composition, Performance and Design( 2020)Carlos Salzedo (1885-1961) fundamentally altered the teaching and playing of the harp in the twentieth century. A virtuoso performer, composer, conductor and teacher, he spent most of his life in the United States, having emigrated from France in 1909. However, his contribution to the harp was not limited to his performance activities, pedagogical work and compositions. This study combines traditional musicological research (entailing critical analysis, close reading and archival research) and performance-led research to reveal that behind his work there is an overarching ideological grounding. The thesis is organised into five chapters, with the addition of an introduction and conclusion. Chapter 1 provides a biographical overview of Salzedo’s life, as well as a brief commentary on the historical context of the double-action pedal harp. Chapter 2 presents a literature review and explains the methodological approach of the thesis. Chapter 3 examines the concepts written about by Salzedo in relation to his “new harpism” ideology, particularly the foundation principle of “essential resonance.” Chapter 4 explores the influence of fellow French composers Edgard Varese (1883-1965) and Dane Rudhyar (1895-1985). Chapter 5 considers Salzedo’s “esthetic laws” of harp composition: this entails identifying the idiomatic principles that Salzedo began to use in 1917 and providing a performer-oriented analysis of how these esthetic laws manifest in selected compositions, including unpublished works. The investigation of the esthetic laws and essential resonance reveals compelling insights into Salzedo’s body of work as a whole, unified by these concepts of new harpism. Salzedo’s status in the harp community is such that his method of playing continues to be prevalent to this day, and his compositions are highly popular worldwide. For harpists who follow his technique, this thesis offers an insight into the rationale behind their daily practices. Perhaps of greater significance, however, is the opportunity provided to composers, performers, conductors, musicologists, and harpists of any technical background, to understand the detailed reasoning behind one of the most idiomatic approaches to harp composition, performance and design that has ever been achieved. The thesis is complemented by a recorded performance component featuring Salzedo compositions, many of which are unpublished and have not been performed for over half a century. These two aspects of analysis and performance interact to produce a thorough understanding of his multi-faceted oeuvre.