The Interplay of Poetry and Musical Style in Ned Rorem's Song Cycle Aftermath: A Reflection of His Quaker and Pacifist Beliefs

Author

Brianna Marie Reilly

Date

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Musical Arts

Department

Music

Committee Chair

Josef Hanson

Committee Member

Benjamin Smith

Committee Member

Carlos Santelli

Committee Member

Joel Roberts

Abstract

This document is an analysis of the contemporary ten-movement song cycle Aftermath, written by Ned Rorem. Aftermath was composed in 2002 as a commentary on the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, in the United States of America and explores themes of loss, grief, survival, and reflection. This document includes historical information about the attacks of September 11, 2001, biographical information on Ned Rorem, information on the texts and the poets whose works Rorem integrated into Aftermath, and an analysis of the musical and textual elements utilized. As Rorem is a Quaker and a Pacifist, each song in the cycle is analyzed to examine his beliefs through his choice of poets, poetry, and musical style. From analyzing Aftermath, one can fully understand that the emotions expressed for historical events are often cyclical and ceaseless.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Open access

Recommended Citation

Reilly, Brianna Marie, "The Interplay of Poetry and Musical Style in Ned Rorem's Song Cycle Aftermath: A Reflection of His Quaker and Pacifist Beliefs" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3810.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/3810