College of Visual and Performing Arts

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This collection contains ETD documents from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

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  • Publication
    Dreams and Shelter: A Mural's Exploration of Cultural Displacement, Dual Identities, and the Journey of a Chinese International Student
    (2024-04-26) Bi, Chen; Frenn, Chawky
    This thesis, “Dreams and Shelter,” investigates the narratives of cultural displacement and dual identity development among Chinese international students in the U.S., using murals to express these complex experiences. Based on theories of cultural identity, architectural symbolism, gender identity, and anthropomorphism, this study uses a qualitative approach. It explores these concepts by both creating and analyzing murals, using them as both method and medium for exploration. The thesis uncovers how murals capture the themes of cultural integration, personal evolution, and the search for belonging. It concludes that art, particularly murals, effectively bridges diverse cultural experiences, offering insights into the intricate process of cultural displacement and identity formation. This work contributes to broader discussions in art therapy, educational psychology, and cross-cultural studies, highlighting the significance of creative practices in understanding and supporting the identity negotiation of individuals in cross-cultural transitions.
  • Publication
    Flexible Avatar Development Systems and the Facilitation of Gender Euphoria in Games
    (2023-11-28) Page, Ollie; Hudson, Seth
    The purpose of this study was to explore participants’ experiences with gender euphoria through their avatars in video games. I studied existing literature and examined examples of games with flexible avatar development systems. To gather data, I conducted a 22-question online survey through social media groups and university listservs related to gaming and/or LGBTQ+ communities. The survey asked participants to share their experiences with video game avatars as they relate to feelings of gender euphoria. Several themes were present in the responses (N=113), including feelings of gender euphoria in video games, wanting the removal of arbitrary limitations from avatar development systems, seeking more inclusive customization options, and the desire for avatars that can be altered throughout play. Developers can use avatar development systems to facilitate feelings of gender euphoria in some players by providing inclusive options, providing flexible systems that allow for change after initial creation, and removing unnecessary limitations from their avatar development systems.
  • Publication
    Alternate Reality Games: A Cultural and Gaming Phenomenon
    (2023-12-01) Nam, Sang
    This thesis explores the history, cultural context, mechanics and perceptions associated with Alternate Reality Games (ARGs). To further this exploration, a survey was digitally administered to 111 participants across the world using Qualtrics and distributed to ARG themed Reddit pages and Discord servers. This survey addresses player demographics, experiences, and preferences concerning ARGs, specific ARG mechanics, and how they view ARGs compared to traditional video games. The data from this survey is analyzed to provide a demographic analysis and examination of reported preferences and experiences through a mixed methods approach. This analysis culminates in a proposed framework for ARG design focusing on the establishment and interaction of three elements, narrative, puzzles, and community. This research provides a fresh look into this unique and growing genre, as well as bringing focus to the players and communities it fosters.
  • Publication
    A Study of Korea Art Songs by Female Composers: Soon-Ae Kim, Young-Ja Lee, Eunhye Kim, and Wonju Lee
    (2023) Park, Seon Gyu; Green, Emily H.
    My research will contribute to a deeper understanding of Korean art song, particularly those composed by the four renowned female composers: Soon-Ae Kim (1920–2007), Young-Ja Lee (b. 1931), Eunhye Kim (b. 1956), and Wonju Lee (b. 1979). This study examines the history of Korean art song and its corresponding Korean poetry in chapter I. Chapter II offers a brief history of Korean female musicians since the Joseon Dynasty and examines the four selected modern female composers, ranging from the first-generation composers to the most recent composers. Chapter III of this research provides a brief overview of the Korean alphabet, Hangeul and the Korean International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), so that non-Korean singers can read and sing Korean easily and correctly. Chapter IV offers an analysis of the Korean art songs composed by the four prominent Korean female composers. It also provides biographies of poets, English translations and Korean IPA of poems, musical analyses, and performance practice/guides. This study will provide value to scholars and students who look for information on Korean art song history, modern Korean poetry history, the history of Korean female musicians, Korean alphabet (Hangeul), Korean IPA, and the four selected Korean female composers—Soon-Ae Kim, Young-Ja Lee, Eunhye Kim, and Wonju Lee—and their art songs.
  • Publication
    The Fusion of Chinese and Western Music: A Study of Traditional and Innovative Musical Elements in Selected Piano Solo Works of Li-Ly Chang
    (2023) Zhang, Xinyu; Owens, Tom C.
    Li-Ly Chang (b. 1952) is a Chinese-American composer, pianist, and music educator who is active on the American music stage. Her cross-cultural life experience and the accumulation of knowledge from different sides of her musical practice gradually formed her compositional style, which addresses both traditional and innovative ideas. The purpose of this dissertation is to demonstrate how Chang integrates Chinese and Western musical elements to form her personal musical style, and to provide a detailed analysis of five advanced piano compositions: Ballade (2016), Portraits (2018), Souvenirs (2019), A Collage (2019), and In the Fields (2020). I hope my dissertation can contribute to the research and performance of contemporary Chinese piano music.In chapter one, I briefly introduce the research summary with a purpose of research, significance of study, literature review, and then a biographic overview of Chang’s life and compositions. Chapter two introduces the basic concepts of Chinese pentatonic modulation, in order for the reader to better understand the inheritance of traditional Chinese musical elements in Chang’s works. In Chapter three, I provide the composing ideas and overall structure in each selected five works. Chapter four analyzes how Chang combines Chinese and Western musical elements in a personalized way in selected five piano works. Chapter five gives suggestions for the performance of five piano works. Last Chapter offers a conclusion with a summary of Chang’s individual compositional language.
  • Publication
    “ALWAYS WITH KINDNESS”: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF MUSIC EDUCATOR AND CONDUCTOR, ANTHONY MAIELLO
    (2023) Clarke, Samantha K.; Han, Soo H
    Anthony Maiello is considered to be one of the most prolific conductors and music educators in America. He has done extensive work with bands and orchestras throughout his life and has impacted students and teachers worldwide as an in-demand clinician and guest conductor and an author of two prominent conducting textbooks. Maiello’s work has contributed to the standardization of preparedness on the podium through his adherence to regular, disciplined, and thorough score study, and he is considered by many a role model for music educators everywhere. This dissertation is the oral history of Maiello’s life and career. It includes stories, life lessons, and anecdotes gleaned from his 59 years of teaching, as well as his philosophies and acclaimed practices and processes as an instrumental music educator, conductor, and pedagogue. The purpose of this research was to create a principal source about Anthony Maiello, which will serve as a source of crucial information for music educators and conductors by providing insight for more mindful and impactful teaching, both now and in the future.
  • Publication
    Topics and Themes in Aaron Copland's Concerto for Clarinet
    (2023) Repka, Katherine Elizabeth; Robinson, Gregory
    Aaron Copland’s Concerto for Clarinet and String Orchestra, with Harp and Piano evokes jazz and Brazilian styles, and dances such as the waltz, through rhythm, melody, and harmony. This is not a jazz or Brazilian composition, it is a classical work that evokes these styles. In this dissertation, I turn to topic theory, which is a method for exploring previously existing music in a classical work. A topic is an external reference to another style or genre, that an audience might reasonably be able to recognize. Performers have debated whether it is appropriate to interpret this work in a way that borrows stylistic features from jazz or Brazilian music. I present a more nuanced understanding of this piece and how it relates to and draws on this wide range of non-classical performance styles, which I hope in turn will provide some more informed context for these conversations about interpretation. Topic theory serves as an analytical tool for understanding Copland’s use of non-classical styles and how his evocation of these styles interact with one another in the concerto. I argue that this work can be understood as a dialogue among dance styles. I use works by authors such as Samuel Floyd Jr., Peter Burkholder, the composer himself, and other scholars to explore the topics of the waltz, frevo, choro, samba, foxtrot, Charleston, boogie woogie, and ragtime. I reference melodies from Copland’s sketches that include the “Pas de deux,” “Autumn Sequence,” and “Winter Nocturne.” I refer to vocabulary such as call and response, slap bass, smear/glissando, accretion technique, rapidly shifting meters, and polyrhythms to support my argument that topic theory can be used to understand Copland’s evocation of non-classical styles in the concerto. This work contributes to the conversations on topic theory in the twentieth-century, uses of jazz and Brazilian music in classical works, Copland’s engagement with non-classical styles, and performance ideas for clarinetists.
  • Publication
    The Use and Impact of the Arts Education Data Project Interactive Dashboard on Advocacy and Policy Efforts: A Multiple Case Study
    (2022) Bollino, Annamarie Severini; Billingham, Lisa A
    This mixed methods study investigated the use and impact of the Arts Education Data Project interactive dashboard on advocacy and policy efforts in arts education. Using a mixed-methods case study approach, data was collected from three states - California, North Carolina, and Ohio - in this sequential explanatory design. Phase I included a researcher-designed descriptive survey that was distributed to arts education advocates in the participating states (n = 16). Data collected during phase II consisted of ten interviews along with a document analysis of artifacts. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected to provide a more comprehensive picture of how advocates within these three states utilized their interactive dashboards for advocacy and policy efforts. Overall results indicated varied implementation models across the three cases. Usage was primarily dependent upon participants' knowledge of the dashboard, examples shared regarding how to use the dashboard, and training received on the dashboard. State leaders used the dashboard as a springboard to build the capacity of arts education advocates through deliberate learning in data literacy practices and advocacy strategies to advance access and equity in their communities. A direct alignment to previous literature on advocacy strategies such as analysis of the data, goal setting, determining action steps, developing an advocacy plan, casemaking, and appropriate messaging was noted. Data analysis also revealed limitations of the data dashboard including discrepancies due to reporting errors and the need for additional data not included in the dashboard. Findings suggested the most notable impact of the dashboard was accessibility for all within the arts education ecosystem. Access to the data generated a sense of empowerment for advocates and provided factual evidence that gained credibility when delivering messages to decision-makers. Participants noted the data provided a means for effective messaging efforts and supported claims regarding arts education access and opportunity for students in their localities, thus complementing other data and anecdotes in effectively telling a story to convince decision-makers. Recommendations include implementation models that specifically train individuals within the arts education ecosystem and varied training opportunities that include data literacy and advocacy strategy practices.
  • Publication
    Elegiac Piano Trios: Portrayals of Grief in Selected Trios of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, and Sviridov
    (2022) Zuniga, Abigail Faith; Ciorba, Charles R
    ABSTRACTELEGIAC PIANO TRIOS: PORTRAYALS OF GRIEF IN SELECTED TRIOS OF TCHAIKOVSKY, RACHMANINOFF, SHOSTAKOVICH, AND SVIRIDOV Abigail Faith Zuniga, D.M.A. George Mason University, 2022 Dissertation Director: Dr. Charles Ciorba The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how the elegiac piano trios of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, and Sviridov are related and to place them into their historical context within the musical narrative. An elegy is “a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.” It can also be defined as “a song of lament for the dead or for some melancholy event, or an instrumental composition with that suggestion, such as Elgar’s Elegy for Strings and Faure’s Elegie.” From the term elegy comes the adjective “elegiac,” which is defined as “relating to or characteristic of an elegy.” The term “elegiac” is pronounced /ˌeləˈjīək/ and is “relating to or characteristic of an elegy.” One genre that has been chosen time and again by Slavic composers as elegiac music is the piano trio. There is a large repertoire of Slavic elegiac trios, including those composed by Arensky, Taneyev, Dvorak, Forster, Smetana, Klein, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, and Sviridov. Due to the immense size of these works, in addition to time and space limitations, only four elegiac trios (by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, and Sviridov) will be discussed in this document. I will include both an analysis of the piano trio music itself in addition to (a) an analysis of the circumstances surrounding the moment of composition, (b) a discussion of who the composers commemorated, and (c) how the composers talked about their own piano trios. This dissertation aims to answer the following research question: How did the composers Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, and Sviridov create elegiac meaning in their piano trios? It has become apparent to me that they added meaning to their trios through musical quotation and imitation. All four of these composers dedicated their elegiac trios explicitly, or implicitly, to the memory of a composer and mentor, a friend, or a country by using compositional references, including quotation and imitation of previous compositions by others and by themselves. Each of these composers would have been familiar with the trios of the preceding and contemporary composers. Tchaikovsky was an esteemed mentor of Rachmaninoff, and Shostakovich was Sviridov’s teacher. Each composer built his elegiac trio on the ideas of the composers that came before him, while also creating a unique composition. In order to create a fuller picture of how tightly these trios are woven into the overall musical narrative, I will explain how the trios influenced works that came after them as well.
  • Publication
    The Impact of David Baker's Pedagogy in the Field of Jazz Improvisation Education
    (2024) Walker, Michael Miller; Ciorba, Charles R
    ABSTRACT THE IMPACT OF DAVID BAKER’S PEDAGOGY IN THE FIELD OF JAZZ IMPROVISATION EDUCATION Michael M. Walker, Sr., Ph.D.George Mason University, 2024 Dissertation Director: Dr. Charles R. Ciorba The Purpose of this study was to address how and to what extent David Baker’s jazz pedagogy impacted the field of jazz improvisation education. The study examines interviews of six leaders in university jazz programs and/or professional performing musicians with firsthand knowledge of Baker’s life and teachings. All are established pedagogues and performers in the field of jazz. Profiles of the interview transcripts were created for this qualitative study to alleviate the idiosyncrasies of speech in the interviews. Thematic connections were derived with the use of headings from the interview questions. The interview data in the profiles exposed empirical information that was used for interpretive analysis. Results indicated Baker’s educational methods and books had a substantial impact in the field of jazz education. Findings also revealed that his relationships with his students had a significant impact on jazz education. Evidence from the participants interviewed uncovered a connection that transcended his methods and pedagogical ideas. It was concluded that David Baker left a lasting heritage for jazz education. His seminal methods and pedagogy provide a living legacy. Keywords: pedagogy, Bebop, lingua franca, transcriptions, definitive recording, jazz improvisation
  • Publication
    A Stylistic Analysis of Gong Xiaoting's Selected Piano Works
    (2024) Yang, Wenru; Ciorba, Charles R
    Gong Xiaoting (b.1970) is a Chinese composer, theorist, and music educator, who serves as a professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing of China. As an active composer, she has created a large number of excellent compositions and made a huge contribution for the development of composition in her field. Gong’s musical style is diverse and full of innovative thoughts based on her experiences studying in France at her early age. Gong perfectly combines Western impressionistic musical styles with Chinese musical style, In this dissertation, I mainly focused on analyzing her compositional style from her two representatives pieces: (a) Five Paintings in Light Color, and (b) a fugue titled Yili Dance. The first Chapter will provide (a) a brief biographical representation, (b) a brief historical background of Chinese piano music and (c) the need for the study. In the chapter two, I mainly focus on the introduction of Chinese music theory, including pentatonic scales, hexatonic modes, and Heptatonic modes. Meanwhile, I will summarize Gong Xiaoting’s major piano works in the chapter three and let people know what kinds of genres she composed by annotating some typical piano works to further understand her musical style. I mainly summarize her compositions from several perspectives including feminism, fusion style, and nationalism. Chapters four and five includes a thorough analysis of Five Paintings in Light Color and Yili Dance along with performance suggestions for the educators and performers.
  • Publication
    THE STUDY OF DONGHOON SHIN’S COMPOSITIONAL OEUVRE: WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON SHIN’S YO (2015), THE HUNTER’S FUNERAL (2017), ANECDOTE (2019), AND SONGS AND GAMES (2019)
    (2024) Park, Hakyong; Owens, Tom C
    Donghoon Shin, born in 1983 in Seoul, South Korean, and now based in London, UK, is a contemporary classical composer, known for his innovative blend of traditional and modern compositional techniques. This dissertation delves into Shin’s musical characteristics and methodology, influenced by a broad spectrum of traditions and influences. The analysis focuses on four of Shin’s compositions: Yo (2015) for large ensemble, The Hunter’s Funeral (2017) for twelve players, Anecdote (2019) for solo sheng and ensemble, and the piano solo piece, Songs and Games (2018). Through examining Shin’s diverse repertoire across various genres, this study aims to delineate key aspects of his work, such as structure, harmony, melody, rhythm, texture, gesture, and external influences. The objective is to provide a comprehensive insight into Shin’s distinctive musical style and his contributions to the contemporary music world.
  • Publication
    Basque Txalaparta and Contemporary Percussion
    (2025) Godinez, Elliott Moises; Robinson, Gregory J
    The txalaparta was little-known around the time it underwent a revival within a Basque cultural reinvigoration in the 1960s, a politically complex time in the history of the Basque Country. Community and sharing are at the heart of txalaparta, both in its historical origins and performance practice. This dissertation aims to provide a point of access and interaction by contemporary percussionists and musicians through 1) developing a notation informed by the txalaparta practice, 2) applying that notation to comment on an observable pedagogy, 3) collaboration with contemporary classical composers to write original works inspired by txalaparta, all while 4) mindfully navigating the sociopolitical questions pertaining to these types of ethnomusicological and anthropological studies. It has developed into an experimental contemporary music practice that maintains those same values of community and sharing, as expressed through interviews with txalaparta performers, revivalists, and scholars in their readiness to share their ideas. A collaborative notation, along with original music towards this practice, will allow musicians of both cultures to share in this music-making practice and continue to complement each other in areas of performance, composition, and pedagogy.
  • Publication
    AN ANALYSIS OF LIN HUA’S TWENTY-FOUR PRELUDES AND FUGUES “ON READING SIKONG TU’S PERSONALITIES OF POETRY”
    (2024) Li, Yingfei; Owens, Tom
    Lin Hua’s Twenty-Four Preludes and Fugues “on Reading Sikong Tu’s Personalities of Poetry” is a set of preludes and fugues based on Sikong Tu’s poems written during the Tang dynasty (618-907). The number of existed articles introducing these preludes and fugues is limited and these articles treat the preludes and fugues as individual pieces not a whole set. In fact, there are strong connections not only between Sikong Tu’s poems and Lin Hua’s music but also between pieces within the set. I analyze the twenty-four pieces as an integral whole from the aspect of musical variety, the combination of western tonality and Chinese models, modulation, and the challenging virtuosic piano technique to help performers, scholars, and public audiences understand this work not only from its musical aspects but also from its combination of western polyphonic thinking in composition and Chinese aesthetics.
  • Publication
    The High School Trombone Ensemble: Exploring its Pedagogical Value and Establishing Guidelines for Accessible Repertoire
    (2023) Freeman, Gregory A.; Carr, Alan G
    Trombone ensembles are common amongst most collegiate music schools and conservatories. Many play a central role in the trombone studio and even provide credit towards degree completion. Despite their growing popularity, however, trombone ensembles are not commonly seen in high school band programs. While a select few high schools offer such an ensemble, they are certainly the exception. Is this a missed opportunity for band directors and trombone teachers to provide a valuable platform for high school trombone students to learn and grow musically? Does the trombone ensemble provide significant and unique benefits for high school students and their band programs as it does for college students? Are the challenges posed by starting and running such a group outweighed by the educational value it provides students, and is there music in the repertoire that is appropriate for this level? There is a significant body of research dedicated to collegiate trombone ensembles, and plenty of discourse on high school small ensembles and chamber ensembles. I will examine both subsets of research, and draw from my own experience directing a high school trombone ensemble in order to show that the trombone ensemble can provide an invaluable and unique educational opportunity for high school students and their band programs. I will also examine three pieces in the trombone ensemble repertoire in order to demonstrate what characteristics make a piece both valuable from a pedagogical perspective, and accessible for a high school level trombone ensemble. One of these pieces is a new commission written by Canadian composer Elizabeth Raum for the Robinson Secondary School Trombone Choir, (of which I am the director).
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    Flash to Eternity
    Walton, Michael; Kardambikis, Christopher
    Flash to Eternity is the title of Michael Walton’s MFA thesis exhibition that was on display in the Gillespie Gallery at George Mason University on November 7, 2022, through November 18, 2022. The exhibition was an exploration into time, an opportunity to investigate the truth of time through mutual and individual experiences. The objects in the exhibition presented the artist’s perspectives regarding the realities and theories of time and their balance between the paradigms of space-time and eternity. The exhibit’s intention was to generate questions in the mind of the viewer: Is time real or an illusion, is there an absolute time or is it relative, and is time dynamic or static? These questions were shaped as a literal journey within the exhibition, allowing the viewer to walk through time constructs in community with others in the gallery, building individual and shared perspectives through experience and trust.
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    Reflection
    Ohashi, Jacquelyn Aiko; Winant, Peter
    My thesis work focuses on gender identity, religion, and speculative design. The thesis exhibition and body of work is simply named REFLECTION for its quality to reflect the identity of myself and the identities of others. This work began four years ago when investigating topics that many viewers harbor misconceptions about: religious faith, transgender, and in the unexpected places where they meet. In response, I have designed and built hypothetical religious objects that both describe and offer solutions to the various questions and struggles I face as a trans man, Lutheran, and human being. The work I created examines the possibilities of being transgender in a profound and endearing way.
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    Cyclic and Repetition-Based Structures as Narrative Tools in Golijov’s Ainadamar
    (2022) Chavez, David; Guessford, Jesse
    Osvaldo Golijov’s music borrows musical styles from a wide variety of different cultures to create a distinctive brand of 21st-century storytelling. Ainadamar, his first opera, presents images of the life and death of iconic Spanish poet Federico García Lorca and actress Margarita Xirgu from a libretto by David Henry Hwang in a Spanish translation by Golijov. This paper analyzes Golijov’s use of cyclic and repetitive musical forms as a primary storytelling device both within individual movements and over the course of the whole opera.
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    The Sound of Metal: Timbral Characteristics of Crash Cymbals, Triangles, and Tambourines
    (2022) Barranco, Michael; Lavengood, Megan
    Analysis and description of the timbral characteristics of percussion instruments has been verbally transmitted from teacher to student for generations. Percussion educators use this vocabulary to indicate their desired sound, which determines the instrument selection of their students and peers in solo, chamber, and ensemble settings. Unfortunately, this vocabulary often fails to coherently translate to young percussion students as well as composers and educators with no prior percussion training. This dissertation will explore the timbral possibilities of three unpitched metallic instruments that frequently appear in the percussion repertoire: tambourines, triangles, and crash cymbals.The analysis synchronizes three forms of methodologies: spectrogram analysis, binary oppositions, and timbral semantics. The methodology is then applied to musical examples, which I term guided orchestration and open orchestration. Here, we will be able to select the instruments that are the most timbrally appropriate for each individual musical settings such as large ensemble, chamber, and solo works, thus forming timbral continuity in the formation of auditory streams in orchestral layers. We will then be able to conceptualize the terms utilized in the percussion community to describe the available sounds on these instruments.
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    A Complementary Pair: Analyzing the Inclusion of Drum Set and Multiple Percussion Within University Percussion Curricula
    (2022) Morris, Colton; Purcell, Darden
    While universities may include both drum set and multiple percussion setups as part of a student’s private instruction, it is sometimes challenging to develop curricula that address both areas as equal in a complete education. As well, there is an implied divide between both sides of percussion: wherever emphasis is placed according to the professor’s philosophy, the student is more likely to specialize in that field over the other choice. Yet, as more job positions exist that demand equal skills in both areas, one may consider a curriculum that prepares a student as well-rounded in both and does not leave one side of percussion totally abandoned. The purpose of this dissertation is to address the divide and seek practical solutions to bring together these areas of percussion: namely, classical multiple percussion and drum set and its affiliated styles, often in university percussion studies. Addressing critical pedagogy of both sides separately will lead to a current assessment of this integration in select public 4-year colleges and universities, and personal interviews with professors of percussion may lend useful thought for implementing these methods for their students.