Exploring America’s musical identity: a comparison study of Indianist piano pieces by Amy Beach and Arthur Farwell

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Natalie M. Khatibzadeh (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Andrew Willis

Abstract: This document compares the purposes and philosophies that guided the composition of Indianist pieces by Amy Beach and Arthur Farwell. By relating Beach’s and Farwell’s output to movements of the early twentieth century, including antimodernism and American nationalism, this study suggests ways in which Beach and Farwell deviated from previously established trends. Through each Indianist piece that attempted to arrange Native American songs, Beach and Farwell introduced new strategies for incorporating melodic transcriptions. Musical analyses within the document reflect Beach’s and Farwell’s goals for writing Indianist pieces, including their intentions for how to communicate with audiences. Both composers’ usage of dissonances, manipulation of melodic motives, and treatment of text shaped each piece’s portrayal of Native American music. Beach’s and Farwell’s Indianist pieces are further analyzed in relation to current musical practices, tracing the process through which compositional practices became more inclusive and diverse during the later twentieth century.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2020
Keywords
American, Beach, Farwell, Indianist, Piano, Transcription
Subjects
Piano music $x History and criticism
Beach, Amy, $d 1867-1944. $t Eskimos.
Farwell, Arthur, $td1872-1952. $t Indian songs, $m mixed voices. $p Mother's vow
Farwell, Arthur, $d 1872-1952. $t Indian songs, $m mixed voices. $p Old man's love song
Farwell, Arthur, $d 1872-1952. $t Wa-wan choral
Farwell, Arthur, $d 1872-1952. $t Domain of Hurikan
Farwell, Arthur, $d 1872-1952. $t From mesa and plain. $p Pawnee horses
Farwell, Arthur, $d 1872-1952. $t Navajo war dance, $m piano

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