An Introduction for the Singer to the Solo Vocal Works of Nigel Butterley
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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Major Papers Graduate School 2004 An introduction for the singer to the solo vocal works of Nigel Butterley with particular emphasis on his works between 1976 and 2003 Alison Rosemary McCubbin Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_majorpapers Part of the Music Commons Recommended Citation McCubbin, Alison Rosemary, "An introduction for the singer to the solo vocal works of Nigel Butterley with particular emphasis on his works between 1976 and 2003" (2004). LSU Major Papers. 35. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_majorpapers/35 This Major Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Major Papers by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AN INTRODUCTION FOR THE SINGER TO THE SOLO VOCAL WORKS OF NIGEL BUTTERLEY WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON HIS WORKS BETWEEN 1976 AND 2003 A Monograph Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in The School of Music by Alison Rosemary McCubbin B.A. Australian National University, 1984 L.L.B. Australian National Unviversity, 1987 M.M.. Louisiana State University, 1997 December 2004 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My heartfelt thanks to those who have encouraged, shepherded, and taught me during my graduate career. Listing all of the people I have come to know in performances and productions would be difficult, but several people deserve recognition, including Tracy Iles-Leith, Leo Day, Gino Chelakis and Rachel Harris. Thanks to Patricia O’Neill for her calm wisdom, to Steven Austin for encouragement in the early stages of my career, and to Nancy Savoy for being there the entire time. Thanks to the Kimbrells - Tracy, Clay, Ashley and Deven - for their companionship and friendship. My family have supported in every way possible: David, Annie, Lachlan, and Lily with their ‘long-distance love,’ my parents, through their visits and unfailing patience, and my husband Mark, who, like all academic spouses, suffered grievously during the final stages of the completion of this document. I would also like to thank Nigel Butterley for his generosity and for his music. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS........................................................................................ii LIST OF TABLES...................................................................................................vi LIST OF EXAMPLES............................................................................................vii ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................xii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF NIGEL BUTTERLEY...........................................................................1 Background...............................................................................................1 Biography.................................................................................................3 Influences on Butterley...........................................................................10 Characteristics of His Solo Vocal Works...............................................12 Butterley and the Poets...........................................................................16 Butterley’s Place in Australian Classical Music.....................................19 2 AN OVERVIEW OF BUTTERLEY’S SOLO VOCAL WORKS Butterley’s Earliest Works for Voice ....................................................22 Three Serenades ..............................................................................22 Six Blake Songs ...............................................................................25 Child in Nature ................................................................................28 Works for Unaccompanied Voice or Voice and Solo Instrument .........31 Joseph and Mary .............................................................................31 Song of Christ the Rock...................................................................31 Works for Solo Voice and Instrumental Ensemble ...............................33 Carmina ..........................................................................................33 Sometimes with One I Love .............................................................35 Butterley’s Solo Work Between 1976 and 2003 ...................................36 3 THE OWL ...................................................................................................38 Introduction to The Owl..........................................................................38 Instrumentation ......................................................................................39 Background.............................................................................................40 The Text..................................................................................................42 The Funeral.......................................................................................43 The Confrontation.............................................................................44 The Owl ............................................................................................45 The Candle .......................................................................................45 The Ritual .........................................................................................46 A Realization ....................................................................................48 The Seduction and Betrayal...............................................................49 Revenge ............................................................................................50 iii Understanding ....................................................................................51 Reconciliation with Self.....................................................................51 The Text As Musical Drama..............................................................52 Section 1 - The Funeral .....................................................................55 Section 2 - The Confrontation............................................................65 Section 3 - The Owl ..........................................................................68 Section 4 - The Candle ......................................................................71 Section 5 - The Ritual .......................................................................74 Section 6 - A Realization ..................................................................78 Section 7 - The Betrayal and Seduction.............................................81 Section 8 - Revenge ..........................................................................87 Section 9 - Understanding .................................................................91 Section 10 - Reconciliation with Self ................................................94 Challenges for the Singer .........................................................................98 Other Performances of the Work..............................................................99 Summary.................................................................................................101 4 THE WOVEN LIGHT Introduction to The Woven Light ............................................................102 Background .............................................................................................103 Kathleen Raine.........................................................................................106 Structure of the Cycle...............................................................................110 Song One - The Text ...............................................................................115 Song One - Music Reflecting Text ..........................................................117 Song Two - The Text ...............................................................................127 Song Two - Music Reflecting Text..........................................................128 Song Three - The Text..............................................................................132 Song Three - Music Reflecting Text............................................... ........136 Song Four - The Text................................................................................150 Song Four - Music Reflecting Text..........................................................152 Song Five - The Text................................................................................157 Song Five - Music Reflecting Text..........................................................158 Song Six - The Text.................................................................................163 Song Six - Music Reflecting Text............................................................164 Challenges for the Singer.........................................................................169 Performances of The Woven Light...........................................................171 5 FROGS Introduction to Frogs...............................................................................173 Background..............................................................................................173