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ETD Abstract Container

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Tonal Mirages: a multifaceted view of tonality in the early transitional pieces of Alexander Scriabin

HOFFMAN, BRIAN D.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1204809598

Abstract Details

2008, M.M., University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music : Theory.
References to the music of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915) abound in books and articles; dedicated analyses of the music, however, are somewhat rare. The most complete attempt at understanding Scriabin's musical style comes from the 1986 monograph by James M. Baker, The Music of Alexander Scriabin. Baker focuses on Scriabin's "transitional" period, employing a combination of the predominant methodologies of the day: Schenkerian analysis and set-theoretic analysis. This thesis proceeds from the same basic premise that Baker's book did over 20 years ago. That is, the balance of tonal and post-tonal elements in Scriabin's transitional music gradually shifts from primarily tonal motivations to primarily post-tonal motivations. In order to accomplish an examination of Scriabin's use of tonality along with a response to Baker's work, I analyze two preludes from early in his middle period, Prelude Op. 48, no. 4 (1905) and Prelude Op. 49, no. 2 (1905) through the perspective of Schenkerian analysis and contextual voice-leading analysis. This leads to my titular concept of "tonal mirages" whereby the appearance of tonality in a piece slowly fades as one gets closer to the piece's surface.
Steven Cahn (Advisor)
David Berry (Committee Member)
Catherine Losada (Committee Member)
121 p.
Music
Scriabin; Schenkerian Analysis; Schenker; James Baker; atonal voice leading

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • HOFFMAN, B. D. (2008). Tonal Mirages: a multifaceted view of tonality in the early transitional pieces of Alexander Scriabin [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1204809598

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • HOFFMAN, BRIAN. Tonal Mirages: a multifaceted view of tonality in the early transitional pieces of Alexander Scriabin. 2008. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1204809598.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • HOFFMAN, BRIAN. "Tonal Mirages: a multifaceted view of tonality in the early transitional pieces of Alexander Scriabin." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1204809598

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1204809598
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© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.