Recent Research in Singing

Abstract

Recent Research in Singing Donald Simonson Click for larger view View full resolution Donald Simonson The following list of recent research in singing is a brief sampling of dissertations/theses published during the last year. It is by no means comprehensive and reflects only a small fraction of the available documents. If you have published recent research in singing, voice pedagogy, voice science, vocal repertoire, pedagogic methodology, or other topics of interest to the membership of NATS, please send citations and abstracts to Donald Simonson at drs@iastate.edu for review and possible inclusion in future columns. ________ Brown, Julie A. "The Unique 'Pelléas et Mélisande:' A Closer Look at Claude Debussy's One and Only Opera." MA Thesis, Webster University, St. Louis, 2021, 96 pages; ProQuest 2542413613. "French composer Claude Debussy's compositions symbolize the definition of twentieth century music. His use of unresolved wandering dominant seventh chords, the use of ninth, elevenths, and thirteenth chords, the use of pentatonic and whole-tone scales, and extreme dynamics and orchestral timbre are trademark characteristics of his style. However, it is the uniqueness of his only opera, Pelléas et Mélisande, that elevates Debussy's music to a higher level and establishes his notoriety in the world of opera. The purpose of this thesis is to discover the various methods Debussy used in composing Pelléas et Mélisande that would classify Debussy's opera in its own category of uniqueness. This thesis also takes an in-depth look at the background of the opera and the libretto of Pelléas et Mélisande. It provides information on the plot, an analysis of the unaccompanied recitative and vocal inflection of the libretto with passing tones and neighbor tones, and the motifs Debussy used to establish his characters, and is supported by musical examples. Debussy's symbolism is discussed as well as his use of polytonality, polyrhythms, poly-meters, dynamic changes, and tempo changes. Finally, this thesis will show a comparison between Debussy's opera and Wagner's opera and give an orchestral and harmonic score analysis of Pelléas et Mélisande to discover what makes Debussy's one and only opera so unique." (ProQuest/Author Abstract) ________ Brown, Ryan Russell. "'We Tell Each Other Stories': Musical Dramaturgy in Craig Hella Johnson's Considering Matthew Shepard." DMA Dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles, 2021, 181 pages; ProQuest 2555923452. "At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the number of choral organizations which pay their members has increased greatly. Along with the emergence of these professional choirs, there is an increased focus on considering the audience experience. One of the ways that professional choral organizations are seeking to elevate the audience experience is through storytelling. Consequently, professional choirs are commissioning and performing oratorios with greater frequency. Considering Matthew Shepard, a modern chamber oratorio composed by Craig Hella Johnson, serves as [End Page 533] an archetype of this new era of musical dramaturgy in choral music. Interviewing conductors of professional choirs and investigating practices in script-writing, the author applies modern concepts of narrative discourse to oratorio. The author explores musical dramaturgy within Considering Matthew Shepard using 'action analysis' and suggests performance practices which highlight the musical dramaturgy within the work." (ProQuest/Author Abstract) ________ Chan, Vania L. "Mindful Singing: Exploring Mindfulness and Self-Regulation in Classical Singing." PhD Dissertation, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2020, 166 pages; Access through the following link, Chan_Vania_L_2020_PhD.pdf (4.712Mb). "The harmonious partnership between the mind and body lies at the core of practice and performance for classical singers. Mindfulness (staying in the present moment) and Self-regulation (understanding and controlling one's own learning environment) are key concepts that when applied to the discipline of classical singing, could help to enhance the growth of efficient learning skills and healthy vocal development. This paper gathers the philosophies and perspectives of respected researchers (including Jon Kabat-Zinn, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and K. Anders Ericsson), and organizes them into three separate stages: 1) Mindfulness Stage One—which involves mindfulness meditation, developing awareness and increased concentration by paying exclusive attention to the breath, 2) Self-Regulation—which centers on deliberate practice, the experts' approach to acquiring...