Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2008 A Performance Analysis of Stylistic Features of Scott Mcallister's Selected Works for Solo Clarinet: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, Black Dog: Rhapsody for Clarient (and Piano), and Blingbling Tori L. Patterson Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC A PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF STYLISTIC FEATURES OF SCOTT MCALLISTER‟S SELECTED WORKS FOR SOLO CLARINET: FOUR PRELUDES ON PLAYTHINGS OF THE WIND, BLACK DOG: RHAPSODY FOR CLARINET (AND PIANO), AND BLINGBLING By TORI L. PATTERSON A Treatise submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Music Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2008 The members of the Committee approve the treatise of Tori L. Patterson defended on March 31, 2008. ______________________________ Frank Kowalsky Professor Directing Treatise ______________________________ Richard Clary Outside Committee Member ______________________________ Deborah Bish Committee Member Approved: __________________________________________________ Bryan Goff, Chair, Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion __________________________________________________ Don Gibson, Dean, School of Music The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii This treatise is dedicated to my parents, David and Delia Kundin. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost I would like to thank Scott McAllister for sharing his composition and performance experiences with me. His support and encouragement throughout this process was invaluable. I would also like to thank the performers who participated in the project including Dr. Frank Kowalsky, Dr. Richard Spece, and Dr. Robert Spring. Without their valuable contributions this project would not have been possible. I also gratefully acknowledge Dr. Frank Kowalsky as my treatise advisor. He eagerly encouraged me to perform BlingBling which inspired me to study McAllister‟s music. My thanks and appreciation is also extended to my committee members, Dr. Deborah Bish and Professor Richard Clary, for their time and encouragement on this project. Finally, I am especially indebted to my family. Without their support, the completion of this project would not have been possible. Mom, I want to thank you for your unwavering support and your helpful and insightful writing suggestions. David, I want to thank you for enthusiastically reminding me to “just finish.” I could not have completed my education without your love and support. Michael, I want to thank you for your humor, encouragement, and willingness to listen to my frustrations. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ........................................................................................................................ vii List of Examples .................................................................................................................. viii Abstract ................................................................................................................................ .xii INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1 I. SCOTT MCALLISTER ................................................................................................ 2 Background .................................................................................................................. 2 McAllister‟s Composition Style .................................................................................... 6 II. FOUR PRELUDES ON PLAYTHINGS OF THE WIND ............................................. 9 Composition and Premiere Histories ............................................................................. 9 Performance Analysis ................................................................................................. 10 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 19 III. BLACK DOG: RHAPSODY FOR CLARINET (AND PIANO) ................................. 20 Compositions and Premiere Histories ......................................................................... 20 Performance Analysis ................................................................................................. 22 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 31 IV. BLINGBLING ........................................................................................................... 33 Composition and Premiere Histories ........................................................................... 33 Performance Analysis ................................................................................................. 34 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 46 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................... 48 v APPENDICES: INTERVIEW WITH SCOTT MCALLISTER .............................................. 49 A. Biography October 7, 2007 .......................................................................................................... 49 October 8, 2007 .......................................................................................................... 62 B. Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind October 7, 2007 .......................................................................................................... 71 October 8, 2007 .......................................................................................................... 78 C. Black Dog ................................................................................................................... 83 D. BlingBling .................................................................................................................. 98 E. Human Subject Committee Approval........................................................................ 105 F. Interview Consent Form ........................................................................................... 106 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................ 107 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ................................................................................................ 109 vi LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind (poem) Section 1 ............................. 10 Table 2: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind (poem) Section 2 ............................. 11 Table 3: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind (poem) Section 3 ....................... 13-14 Table 4: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind (poem) Section 4 ............................. 17 vii LIST OF EXAMPLES Example 2.1: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, Mvt. 1 meas. 2-3 ............................................................................................. 10 Example 2.2: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, Mvt. 1 meas. 9-10 ........................................................................................... 11 Example 2.3: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, Mvt. 1 meas. 15-16 ......................................................................................... 11 Example 2.4: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, Mvt. 2 meas. 1-2 ............................................................................................. 12 Example 2.5: Suggested Trill Fingerings for Mvt. I meas. 1-2 ............................................................................................. 12 Example 2.6: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind Trill chart ............................................................................................ 13 Example 2.7: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, Mvt. 2 meas. 19-22 ......................................................................................... 13 Example 2.8: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, Mvt. 3 meas. 8 ................................................................................................ 14 Example 2.9: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind Mvt. 3 meas. 23-24 ......................................................................................... 15 Example 2.10: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, Mvt. 3 meas. 19-21 ......................................................................................... 15 Example 2.11: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind Mvt. 3 meas. 8-9 ............................................................................................. 16 Example 2.12: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind Mvt. 3 meas. 16-17 ......................................................................................... 16 Example 2.13: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind Mvt. 3 meas. 43-44 ......................................................................................... 17 Example 2.14: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, Mvt. 4 meas. 7-13 ........................................................................................... 18 viii Example 2.15: Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, Mvt. 4 meas. 14-18 ......................................................................................... 18 Example