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South Central Music Bulletin VIII/1-2 (Fall 2009 – Spring 2010) • A Refereed Journal • ISSN 1545-2271 • http://www.scmb.us _________________________________________________________________________________________ South Central Music Bulletin A Refereed, Open-Access Journal ISSN 1545-2271 Volume VIII, Issues 1-2 (Fall 2009 – Spring 2010) __________________________________________________________________________________________ Editor: Dr. Nico Schüler, Texas State University Music Graphics Editor: Richard D. Hall, Texas State University Editorial Review Board: Dr. Paula Conlon, University of Oklahoma Dr. Stacey Davis, University of Texas – San Antonio Dr. Lynn Job, North Central Texas College Dr. Kevin Mooney, Texas State University Dr. Dimitar Ninov, Texas State University Ms. Sunnie Oh, Independent Scholar & Musician Dr. Robin Stein, Texas State University Dr. Leon Stefanija, University of Ljubljana (Slovenia) Dr. Paolo Susanni, Yaşar University (Turkey) Dr. Lori Wooden, University of Central Oklahoma Subscription: Free This Open Access Journal can be downloaded from http://www.scmb.us. Publisher: South Central Music Bulletin http://www.scmb.us © Copyright 2009 by the Authors. All Rights Reserved. 1 South Central Music Bulletin VIII/1-2 (Fall 2009 – Spring 2010) • A Refereed Journal • ISSN 1545-2271 • http://www.scmb.us _________________________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents Message from the Editor by Nico Schüler … Page 3 Research Article: Composer Stephen Lias: Biographical Notes, Musical Style, and Analytical Discussion of Songs of a Sourdough by April Stephens … Page 4 Composer Portrait: A Portrait of, and Interview with, Composer Kenneth (Ken) Metz by Aaron Carter-Cohn … Page 21 Book Reviews: Portable Music & Its Functions by A. Williams by Johanna L. Friedrich … Page 45 James K. Wright: Schoenberg, Wittgenstein and the Vienna Circle by Rebekah K. Smeltzer … Page 46 2 South Central Music Bulletin VIII/1-2 (Fall 2009 – Spring 2010) • A Refereed Journal • ISSN 1545-2271 • http://www.scmb.us _________________________________________________________________________________________ Message from the Editor Nico Schüler, Texas State University, E-Mail: [email protected] As always, I would like to sincerely thank all mem- - short responses to articles published in previ- bers of our peer-review board for their hard work ous issues; and excellent suggestions for improving each arti- - bibliographies on any music-related topic, cle. which may or may not be annotated); All issues may contain articles and an- - reviews of books, printed music, CDs, and nouncements in the following categories: software; and - articles with a special focus on local music - reports on recent symposia, conferences, and traditions (any region in the world); music events. - research articles – generally, all music-related I would like to call for submissions that fit any of topics are being considered; these categories. Submissions by students are, as - opinion articles that are part of, or provide the always, very welcome. All submissions are ex- basis for, discussions on important music topics; pected via e-mail with attachments in Word format - composer portraits that may or may not in- or in Rich Text Format. For detailed submission clude an interview; guidelines visit http://www.scmb.us. 3 South Central Music Bulletin VIII/1-2 (Fall 2009 – Spring 2010) • A Refereed Journal • ISSN 1545-2271 • http://www.scmb.us _________________________________________________________________________________________ Research Article Composer Stephen Lias: Biographical Notes, while Lias taught at Tyler Junior College as an ad- Musical Style, and Analytical Discussion of junct professor. Songs of a Sourdough In 1993, Lias moved to Baton Rouge, Loui- siana, where he completed his coursework for his by April Stephens Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition at Louisiana Campbellsville University State University. Teaching again at Tyler Junior E-Mail: [email protected] College, Lias completed his dissertation and re- ceived his doctorate from Louisiana State Universi- Introduction ty in 1997. This article on the contemporary composer Stephen In 1997, Lias accepted a position on the fac- Lias (born 1966) is based on my Master’s thesis ulty of Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas, about (Stephens 2008) and a continuation of the compos- thirty miles east of Tyler. Then, in 2000, Lias re- er’s portrait published in the South Central Music turned to Stephen F. Austin University as a faculty Bulletin VII/2 (pp. 20-30). It will provide more de- member. He and his wife continue to reside in tailed biographical information, a stylistic infor- Nacogdoches, Texas, today. mation about Lias’ music, and an analytical ap- proach to Stephen Lias’ song cycle Songs of a Musical Training and Career Sourdough (2007). As a child, Lias took piano lessons for a number of years. His natural ability to play by ear was an im- Biographical Notes pediment to traditional learning, but his desire to Stephen Lias, the younger of two children, was born play continued to increase even after the lessons in Suffern, New York, on March 18, 1966. Just one ceased. His parents were very supportive of Lias’ year later, the Lias family moved to Lakewood, growth as a musician. In fact, when Lias made his New Jersey. Stephen lived in New Jersey until he first attempts at composition, it was his mother, an was fourteen years old. He attended high school in amateur pianist, who showed him how to write it West Chester, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in down. Lias recalls much music in his home as a 1984. child, whether it be his mother playing music on the Upon graduation, Lias left home for Gran- piano to put him to sleep or singing hymns with his tham, Pennsylvania, where he attended Messiah father. There was also an early influence from Lias’ College. In 1988, Lias received his Bachelor of Sci- church environment as well. Lias’ church organist, ence in Music Education degree (with a vocal em- Anita Greenlee, provided him with opportunity to phasis) and relocated to Lindale, Texas, to work for have his works performed in the church setting. In vocal coach Chris Beatty, nephew of the American high school, Lias began to study voice and chose composer Samuel Barber. After a year in Lindale, this as his main instrument in his undergraduate ed- Lias moved to Tyler, Texas, and began his work as ucation. While in high school, Lias participated in a freelance musician in 1990. It was also during this district and regional choruses on several occasions time that Lias worked on, and received, his Master as well as in an all-state choir during his senior of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Composition year. He also had the opportunity to have some of from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, his compositions performed, which increased his Texas. desire to compose. After completing his Master’s degree in Lias’ first attempts at composition were en- 1991, Stephen Lias married Roni Brown. The cou- couraged by several individuals early in his life, in- ple continued living in Tyler for two more years, cluding his mother, his high school choir director, Robert Stuart, and Dr. Richard Roberson, his com- 4 South Central Music Bulletin VIII/1-2 (Fall 2009 – Spring 2010) • A Refereed Journal • ISSN 1545-2271 • http://www.scmb.us _________________________________________________________________________________________ position teacher at Messiah College. When asked in Lias continues to grow as a composer and an interview at what point Lias knew he wanted to professor by attending lectures and workshops of be a composer, he responded: varying topics. In May 2007, he attended the ASCAP/NYU Film Scoring Workshop, jointly “I have enjoyed writing music for nearly as long as I can remember, but I did not think of myself as a sponsored by the American Society of Composers, ‘composer’ until early in my graduate studies. In high Authors, and Publishers and New York University’s school and early college, I was extremely diverse in Steinhardt School of Music. He has also attended my interests and pursuits – I wanted to be a singer – several orchestration workshops at the Film Music an actor – a composer – a conductor – a pianist – and Institute, conducted each year in Los Angeles, CA, other things. I was energetic and possessed enough natural ability to enable me to pursue all these inter- by Stephen Scott Smalley, a noted film composer. ests simultaneously while never focusing fully on any In addition to attending workshops and sem- single discipline. This approach had its benefits for inars for his own professional growth, Lias has had me professionally, but probably also was a hindrance the opportunity to be a presenter and adjudicator for to my early growth as a composer.” (Stephen Lias in several conferences and competitions. In the Spring a personal email from June 20, 2007) of 2003, Lias served as adjudicator for a composi- During the summer of 1992, Lias joined the tion contest sponsored by the Mid-South Chapter of Texas Shakespeare Festival as its “Composer in NACUSA. Another opportunity for Lias to adjudi- Residence.” His main role with the Shakespeare cate came in 2004 at the Nacogdoches Music Festival was to write incidental music to the plays Teachers Association Student Composition Recital. produced each summer. Lias remained in this posi- Lias participated in a panel discussion on vocation tion each summer until 2000. and the transition to the professional