Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Background, Analysis, and Performance Application
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Background, Analysis, and Performance Application D.M.A. DOCUMENT Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Musical Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Emily Ann Patronik, M.M. Graduate Program in Music The Ohio State University 2013 D.M.A. Document Committee: Karen Pierson, Advisor Robert Sorton Dr. Susan Powell Copyright by Emily Ann Patronik 2013 Abstract Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra was commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony for their principal bassoonist, Nancy Goeres and premiered in 1993. While this piece has been gaining popularity in the bassoon world, there are still many musicians that have never heard of it. Contemporary music can be intimidating to a performer because it is not as easily understood as the traditional music that precedes it. As a result, some performers shy away from it and quality pieces never get the notoriety they deserve. The background information, analysis, and performance applications included in this document are meant to help musicians understand this concerto in the hopes that it will be less daunting and will receive more professional performances. Background knowledge of the piece was compiled through telephone interviews with Zwilich and Goeres, newspaper and magazine articles, and information contained with the CD recording. The background information included is comprised of biographies of Zwilich and Goeres, a description of the commission, collaboration, and premiere performance, and information about the recording, piano reduction, and percussion part. When analyzing this concerto, an analysis of harmonic tendencies, scales used, and a list of motives were completed.
[Show full text]