Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Date

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Musical Arts

Department

Music

Committee Chair

Kamran Ince

Committee Member

Jack Cooper

Committee Member

Mahir Cetiz

Committee Member

Sam Shoup

Abstract

HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL is an orchestral work in three movements. My primary aim with this piece of music was to explore the points of divergence and intersection between concert and popular music traditions. This exploration takes place through both the blending and juxtaposition of elements from both traditions. Each tradition is represented in different instruments within the ensemble. The rock element is primarily present in the drum set, while the orchestra functions as a representation of the concert music element. Each element begins with reference to a particular point in the history of the respective traditions. The initial use of drum set in the orchestral context presents the rock element as existing outside of the ensemble. This is evidenced in the rhythmic contrasts between the rhythmic world of the orchestra and that of the drum set. During the first movement, “Prototype”, the orchestral language borrows heavily from 20th century Neoclassicists like Sergei Prokofiev, and late romantic composers like Richard Strauss. Simultaneously the drum set employs grooves reminiscent of classic rock drummers like Ginger Baker and John Bonham. Through the progression of the piece, both elements develop through historical styles, particularly minimalism and post minimalism with respect to the concert music elements and progressive rock and metal with respect to the rock elements. By the end of the third and final movement, of the piece, “Phenotype”, the shared compositional devices of repetitive rhythm and alteration through process are established between the two traditions and the drum set and orchestra become unified in the execution of a metrically irregular groove that combines modern concert music aesthetics with the rhythmic and metric exploration of modern metal bands like Meshuggah.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest/Clarivate.

Notes

Open Access.

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