I was on a Mountain

• Other Authors: Shafer, Daniel William (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Music
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-5174

i was on a mountain (2012) is an experimental composition written for a unique and completely electronic ensemble, the Electronic Chamber Orchestra (EChO) at the Florida State University. EChO is comprised of an electric string quintet, keyboard, two electric wind instruments (Ewi), percussion MIDI controllers (Xylosynth and Octapad), live sound processing and six-channel surround amplification with the use of a fully automatable digital audio workstation (DAW). The purpose of this work is to expand the possibilities of electroacoustic composition through establishing repertoire for the EChO ensemble. The work is an electroacoustic collage of sound drawing influence from modern composition, classical forms, Americana folk song, and post-hardcore punk - a sphere of musical influences that I consider to be my "compositional heritage." Each of the three movements are adaptations of classical forms (sonata-allegro, passacaglia, and rondo) contrasted with Americana and punk music styles. The title of the first movement "wake up wake up" is taken from the first line of the American bluegrass traditional "Darlin' Corey." Motives from "Darlin' Corey" are used throughout the first and third movements, most notably in cadencial passages. The second movement "life is but a dram" draws it's title from the final verse of the Irish/American folk traditional "Moonshiner." The majority of the second movement is built upon a deconstruction of the "Moonshiner" melody. The title of the third movement is a line of verse from the song "I was on a Mountain" by the post-hardcore punk group Hot Water Music. Harmonies, rhythmic structures, and musical styles of the Hot Water Music song were extrapolated, distorted, and deconstructed to produce many of the motives and stylistic traits of i was on a mountain. === A Thesis submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. === Spring Semester, 2012. === March 23, 2012. === Composition, Digital Audio Workstation, Electroacoustic, Ewi, Live Processing, Surround Sound === Includes bibliographical references. === Mark Wingate, Professor Directing Thesis; Ladislav Kubrik, Committee Member; Clifton Callender, Committee Member.