Tone Parallels in Music for Film: the Compositional Works of Terence Blanchard in the Diegetic Universe and a New Work for Studio Orchestra By
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TONE PARALLELS IN MUSIC FOR FILM: THE COMPOSITIONAL WORKS OF TERENCE BLANCHARD IN THE DIEGETIC UNIVERSE AND A NEW WORK FOR STUDIO ORCHESTRA BY BRIAN HORTON Johnathan B. Horton B.A., B.M., M.M. Dissertation Prepared for the Degree of DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS August 2017 APPROVED: Richard DeRosa, Major Professor Eugene Corporon, Committee Member John Murphy, Committee Member and Chair of the Division of Jazz Studies Benjamin Brand, Director of Graduate Studies in the College of Music John Richmond, Dean of the College of Music Victor Prybutok, Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School Horton, Johnathan B. Tone Parallels in Music for Film: The Compositional Works of Terence Blanchard in the Diegetic Universe and a New Work for Studio Orchestra by Brian Horton. Doctor of Musical Arts (Performance), August 2017, 46 pp., 1 figure, 24 musical examples, bibliography, 49 titles. This research investigates the culturally programmatic symbolism of jazz music in film. I explore this concept through critical analysis of composer Terence Blanchard's original score for Malcolm X directed by Spike Lee (1992). I view Blanchard's music as representing a non- diegetic tone parallel that musically narrates several authentic characteristics of African- American life, culture, and the human condition as depicted in Lee's film. Blanchard's score embodies a broad spectrum of musical influences that reshape Hollywood's historically limited, and often misappropiated perceptions of jazz music within African-American culture. By combining stylistic traits of jazz and classical idioms, Blanchard reinvents the sonic soundscape in which musical expression and the black experience are represented on the big screen. My new work––Black Magic––is a musical response to the research found within this study. The through- composed piece is written in three movements for a studio orchestra. It is an homage to the musical, cultural, and entertainment contributions of African-Americans in the magical realm of Hollywood cinema. Copyright 2017 by Johnathan B. Horton ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank professors Rich DeRosa, Dr. John Murphy, Eugene Corporon, Tanya Darby, Brad Leali, the University of North Texas Division of Jazz Studies, and the College of Music faculty and student body for their support and encouragement in this musical endeavor. I would also like to thank Terence Blanchard for his wisdom of composing from the heart, and the art of telling a story through music. This work is dedicated to Anthony, Faith, Joyce, Celia, Earl (Pop Pop), Maybelle, and Johnny. Your spirit beyond this earthly realm continues to inspire and guide me. Forever forward… iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES AND MUSICAL EXAMPLES...................................................................... v CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 Perception and Persuasion in the Diegetic Universe .......................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2. TERENCE BLANCHARD ................................................................................... 10 Sonic Irony - Terence Blanchard’s Film Score for Malcolm X (1992): A Contextual Analysis............................................................................................................................. 12 CHAPTER 3. BLACK MAGIC: A NEW WORK FOR STUDIO ORCHESTRA BY BRIAN HORTON ...................................................................................................................................... 25 Mvt. I. One Thousand, Three Hundred, And Sixty-Nine Illuminations ............................ 27 Mvt. II. All You Give Is All You Get, So Give It All You Got ........................................... 33 Mvt. III. In This Quiet Place, At This Final Hour, I Heard The Lamentations Of A Million Hearts ................................................................................................................... 36 CHAPTER 4. CONCLUSION...................................................................................................... 43 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......................................................................................................................... 44 iv LIST OF FIGURES AND MUSICAL EXAMPLES Page Figures Figure 3.1. Photo of the author with composer Terence Blanchard. January 7, 2017. Wyly Theatre, Dallas, TX ....................................................................................................................... 42 Examples Example 2.1. “Malcolm’s Theme,” Opening Credits from Malcolm X (1992, 00:00:38), author’s transcription, 2017. ....................................................................................................................... 14 Example 2.2. “Malcolm’s Theme,” Cops and Robbers from Malcolm X (1992, 00:18:16), author’s transcription, 2017. ......................................................................................................... 15 Example 2.3. “Malcolm’s Theme,” Cops and Robbers (continued) from Malcolm X (1992, 00:18:23), author’s transcription, 2017. ........................................................................................ 16 Example 2.4. “Malcolm’s Theme,” Back to Boston from Malcolm X (1992, 00:49:56), author’s transcription, 2017. ....................................................................................................................... 17 Example 2.5. “Malcolm’s Theme,” Black and White from Malcolm X (1992, 01:13:56), author’s transcription, 2017. ....................................................................................................................... 19 Example 2.6. “Malcolm’s Theme,” Black and White from Malcolm X (1992, 01:16:53), author’s transcription, 2017. ....................................................................................................................... 20 Example 2.7. “Malcolm’s Theme,” Going to Mecca from Malcolm X (1992, 02:34:04), author’s transcription, 2017. ....................................................................................................................... 22 Example 2.8. “Malcolm’s Theme,” Eulogy from Malcolm X (1992, 03:07:19), author’s transcription, 2017. ....................................................................................................................... 24 Example 3.1. One Thousand, Three Hundred, And Sixty-Nine Illuminations, mm. 1-9. ............. 28 Example 3.2. Theme for eOn Thousand, Three Hundred, and Sixty-Nine Illuminations, mm. 17- 24................................................................................................................................................... 29 Example 3.3. Theme voiced in the string section, One Thousand, Three Hundred, And Sixty-Nine Illuminations, mm. 29-35. ............................................................................................................. 30 Example 3.4. First variation of theme performed by horn. One Thousand, Three Hundred, And Sixty-Nine Illuminations, mm. 62-76. ........................................................................................... 31 v Example 3.5. Foreground, middleground, and background. One Thousand, Three Hundred, And Sixty-Nine Illuminations, mm. 184-196 ........................................................................................ 32 Example 3.6. Brass choral interlude. One Thousand, Three Hundred, And Sixty-Nine Illuminations, mm. 237-242. ......................................................................................................... 32 Example 3.7. Flute and piano duet. One Thousand, Three Hundred, And Sixty-Nine Illuminations, mm. 253-259. ......................................................................................................... 33 Example 3.8. Alto saxophone and piano. All You Give Is All You Get, So Give It All You Got, mm. 5-12. ...................................................................................................................................... 33 Example 3.9. Alto saxophone and piano. All You Give Is All You Get, So Give It All You Got, mm. 30-37. .................................................................................................................................... 34 Example 3.10. Score. All You Give Is All You Get, So Give It All You Got, mm. 103-110. ..... 35 Example 3.11. Auditory signifiers of the third movement in the solo backgrounds. All You Give Is All You Get, So Give It All You Got, mm. 75-82....................................................................... 36 Example 3.12. Oboe melody with percussion. In This Quiet Place, At This Final Hour, I Heard The Lamentations Of A Million Hearts, mm. 13-24. .................................................................... 37 Example 3.13. Unison melody. In This Quiet Place, At This Final Hour, I Heard The Lamentations Of A Million Hearts, mm. 97-108. ......................................................................... 38 Example 3.14. Clarinet solo adlibs. In This Quiet Place, At This Final Hour, I Heard The Lamentations Of A Million Hearts, mm. 109-116. ....................................................................... 39 Example 3.15. Climax. In This Quiet Place, At This Final Hour, I Heard The Lamentations Of A Million Hearts, mm. 192-201. .....................................................................................................