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INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter fece, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely afreet reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zed) Road, Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE THE WHOLE CONDUCTOR; WESTON NOBLE’S PHILOSOPHIES ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CONDUCTING AND MUSICIANSHIP A DOCUMENT SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY In partial fuiniiment of the requirement for the degree of DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS By PERRY D. WHITE Norman, Oklahoma 1998 UMI Number: 9828783 Copyright 1998 by White, Perry Dean All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9828783 Copyright 1998, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 © Copyright by Perry D. White 1998 All Rights Reserved. THE WHOLE CONDUCTOR; WESTON NOBLE'S PHILOSOPHIES ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CONDUCTING AND MUSICIANSHIP A Document APPROVED FOR THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC BY Dr. Dennis Shrock, Major Professor — 0 ^. 0 .^3 ^ Dr. Steven Curtis _ Dr. Eugene Enrico p f \ ----- . Michael Rogers Dr. Kirby Gilliland ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author would like to thank Dr. Wilfred Bunge and Dr. Geoffrey Boers for their willingness to share vital information toward the completion of this document, as well as Dr. Kirby Gilliland, University of Oklahoma Professor of Psychology', who lent tremendous insight and guidance throughout the project. Drs. Eugene Enrico, Michael Rogers, and Steven Curtis were generous with their support and advice, not only through the completion of this document, but also throughout the course of my doctoral studies at the University of Oklahoma. The author gratefully acknowledges the instruction, guidance, and assistance of Dr. Dennis Shrock, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Oklahoma and Chairman of the Document Committee. His high standard of leadership and scholarship are an inspiration and continued source of personal motivation. A special note of thanks must go to my dear friend, Mr. Weston H. Noble, who has willingly shared his personal history, knowledge, and philosophy and will continue to serve as a source of personal and professional inspiration for the rest of my life. Finally, thank you to my family, especially my wife, Dalene, for generous and continued support, assistance, and encouragement throughout the course of my doctoral studies. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE; Introduction A. Introduction 1 B. Scope of the Study 4 C. Need for the Study 5 D. Limitations of the Study 6 E. Related Literature 6 F. Outline of the Document 7 CHAPTER TWO: A Brief Biography of Weston Noble A Early Life and Family 8 B. Life At Luther College 12 C. Service in World War II 15 D. Early Teaching Years and Graduate Studies 22 E. A Position of Leadership at Luther College 26 F. Further Commitment to Luther College 30 G. 1972-1974: The Years of Discover) 33 H. The Past Quarter Century 36 CHAPTER THREE: The Psychological Elements of Wholeness A. The Ego vs. Self 43 B. The Shadow vs. Persona 46 C. The Anima vs. Animus 5 1 D. The Feeling Function vs. Intellect 61 E. Conclusion 70 CHAPTER FOUR: The Significance and Application of Weston Noble's Philosophy for Musicians A. The Realms o f Self 72 B. The Musical Moment 75 C. Healing and Transparency 78 Depression 78 Elements of Sexuality 81 Transparency 82 The Importance of Dreams 85 Steps to Healing and Wholeness 86 D. Feeling Function and the Choir Director 90 E. The Composer's Spirit and Score Interpretation 95 F. Psychological Elements in Rehearsal 97 G. Conclusion 99 BIBLIOGRAPHY 103 APPENDICES A. Vita of Weston Noble 107 B. Noble's Lecture Transcripts 122 Bring the Special World Into Reality 123 Feeling Function and The Choir Director 127 Emotions (Particularly Depression) and The Choir Director 132 The Kingdom Both Difficult and Beautiful 135 The Kingdom Both Difficult and Light 140 Feeling Function - The Shadow and The Choir Director 143 If The Heart Isn't Free, The Baton Isn't Free 148 Jesus' Sayings Revisited 153 Music and Your Spirit 157 VI CHAPTER ONE Introduction This document is intended to present and chronicle Weston H. Noble's philosophies on the psycholog)' of conducting and musicianship. Based upon certain elements of psychological theory. Noble has focused his artistic and educational objectives on the concept of exploration of the subjective side of the musical art. This approach has enabled Noble to achieve unparalleled success in his ability to relate to a vast number of singers in choral ensembles throughout the world. It has also allowed him to elicit tremendous feeling reactions to the music from singers and, by extension, the listening audience. The study of Noble's practices while he is still active yields the most accurate presentation of his ideas. Throughout his lengthy teaching career at Luther College as well as numerous appearances as guest clinician, adjudicator, conductor, and lecturer. Noble has educated and influenced a multitude of prominent musicians from around the world. Many have adapted and incorporated all or parts of his philosophy and methodology into their own work. Thus, his ideas have helped to shape an understanding of the subjective side of conducting and general musicianship in the modem world of both instrumental and choral music. It is this focus on the emotional elements of music making that has become the overriding educational objective in all of Noble's work and the primary factor in his tremendous success as a conductor. The goal of Noble's philosophy is to help release the musician from the encumbrances that may serve as barriers to a free flow of natural musicianship, thereby allowing the individual to experience a higher level of feeling reaction to the music. The means to realization of this goal is broken into two large parts. First, an individual must understand the terminology and need for psychological balance between rival elements of the human psyche. Second, the resolution of conflict and imbalance is achieved by a willingness to become transparent or vulnerable. Thus, it is through this vulnerability that the conductor becomes a free vessel of communication between the spirit of the music, the performing ensemble, and the listening audience. Biographical Information Weston Noble, Director of Choral Music Activities at Luther College, is an internationally known conductor, clinician, and an esteemed music educator. Making twenty-five to thirty annual appearances apart from his teaching duties at Luther College, he has served as guest conductor for more than 775 music festivals in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and South America. In 1995 Noble was the guest conductor of the Australian National Choral Association in Perth, Australia and also adjudicated at the Federacas De Coros Do Rio Grande Do Sul Fecors at Porto Cellegre, Brazil. In 1998 Noble will be the Honorarv’ Chairman of the American International Singing Festival for Men and Boys to be held in Collegeville, Minnesota and Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Noble has served as Professor of Music at Luther College in Decorah, 1 Iowa since 1948. He has held the position of Music Department Head and, more recently. Director of Musical Activities. He is the only active conductor to have prepared All-State groups in all three media (over 50 bands, choirs, and orchestras). He has conducted either Luther organizations or festival groups in Orchestra Hall, Chicago; Town Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center, New York; Kennedy Center, Washington D C.; Music Center, Los Angeles; Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis; Ordway Music Theatre, St. Paul; Bolshoi and Tschaikowsky Halls, Moscow; Philharmonic Hall, St. Petersburg, Russia; Franz Liszt Academy, Budapest, Hungary: and the Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City. Mr. Noble has conducted ten concert tours in Europe, including countries from Norway to Rumania, and has toured Russia four times. In 1989 Noble received the first Outstanding Music Educator Award from the National Federation of High School Associations in recognition of his contributions to the quality of performance in high school music programs. He was the first recipient of the Weston H. Nohle Award for lifetime achievement in the choral art, presented by the North Central Division of the American Choral Directors Association in 1994. He has also received the Iowa Music Educators Association’s Outstanding Music Educator Award, the Illinois Music Educators Association's Presidential Award, the Citation o f Merit Award from the University of Michigan, and the Judge Henry and Helen Graven Award from Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, which is given to an outstanding layperson whose life is nurtured by a strong sense of Christian calling and who is making a significant contribution to communit} .