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Nigel Westlake's Omphalo Centric Lecture: a guide for performance including a biography of the composer and an examination of the different versions of the work

Dalton, Grant Beckett
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1155572878

Abstract Details

2006, Doctor of Musical Arts, Ohio State University, Music.
This document is an examination of Nigel Westlake’s first marimba quartet, Omphalo Centric Lecture. The study includes a biography of the professional career of the composer, an analysis of the work, a study of the many different versions of the work, and considerations for the performance of the work. The biographical material was attained primarily through email correspondence with knowledgeable people and through published interviews with Nigel Westlake. Some of these knowledgeable people include prominent Australian percussionists, the composer himself, and his wife, Jan Westlake. The analysis is a look at the design of the composition. It is primarily focused on the rhythmic content of the Omphalo Centric Lecture since the piece is so heavily driven by the rhythms. The primary content of this rhythmic drive is created by the use of multiple ostinati of differing lengths used simultaneously to provide the accompaniment to the melody. The examination of the many variations on this work traces the development of Omphalo Centric Lecture from its genesis as a trio for bass clarinet and two percussionists to its arrangement as a marimba quartet for the Australian percussion ensemble, Synergy. Since Omphalo Centric Lecture was published in the version for four marimbas, this piece has been arranged for many different configurations of instruments, and it has been arranged for ensembles that vary in size from six or more down to a duo with electronic accompaniment. The discussion of rehearsal techniques is derived from email correspondence from leading performers of the work and from percussionists who have contributed to the knowledge of this piece. These performers and educators were limited to those that have published comments on the performance of the work and performers who have commercially available recordings of the composition.
Susan Powell (Advisor)
Music
Marimba Ensemble; Percussion Ensemble; Omphalo Centric Lecture; Westlake, Nigel

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dalton, G. B. (2006). Nigel Westlake's Omphalo Centric Lecture: a guide for performance including a biography of the composer and an examination of the different versions of the work [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1155572878

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dalton, Grant. Nigel Westlake's Omphalo Centric Lecture: a guide for performance including a biography of the composer and an examination of the different versions of the work. 2006. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1155572878.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dalton, Grant. "Nigel Westlake's Omphalo Centric Lecture: a guide for performance including a biography of the composer and an examination of the different versions of the work." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1155572878

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1155572878
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© 2006, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.
Release 3.2.12