University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Music Music 2020 STEVEN BRYANT’S THE AUTOMATIC EARTH: A CONDUCTOR’S ANALYSIS AND PERFORMANCE PERSPECTIVES Corey S. Bonds University of Kentucky, [email protected] Author ORCID Identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8170-2589 Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2020.226 Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Bonds, Corey S., "STEVEN BRYANT’S THE AUTOMATIC EARTH: A CONDUCTOR’S ANALYSIS AND PERFORMANCE PERSPECTIVES" (2020). Theses and Dissertations--Music. 160. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/music_etds/160 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Music at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Music by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless an embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s thesis including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Corey S. Bonds, Student Dr. John Cody Birdwell, Major Professor Dr. Lance Brunner, Director of Graduate Studies STEVEN BRYANT’S THE AUTOMATIC EARTH: A CONDUCTOR’S ANALYSIS AND PERFORMANCE PERSPECTIVES _______________________________________ DMA PROJECT _______________________________________ A DMA project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in the College of Fine Arts at the University of Kentucky By Corey S. Bonds Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. John Cody Birdwell, Professor of Music Lexington, Kentucky 2020 Copyright © Corey S. Bonds 2020 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8170-2589 ABSTRACT OF DMA PROJECT STEVEN BRYANT’S THE AUTOMATIC EARTH: A CONDUCTOR’S ANALYSIS AND PERFORMANCE PERSPECTIVES The purpose of this research is to present a conductor’s analysis and performance perspectives of The Automatic Earth, composed by Steven Bryant for the Arizona State University Wind Orchestra, and premiered by its conductor, Professor Gary Hill, at the 2019 College Band Director’s National Association National Conference. Through the conductor’s analysis and performance perspectives, the author seeks to provide future conductors and performers with necessary musical interpretations and technical guidance. The four-part process of research includes: 1. detailed analysis of the musical score of The Automatic Earth, 2. observation of rehearsals and world premiere of the work, 3. in- depth interviews with composer Steven Bryant, conductor Gary Hill, and technical support personnel, and 4. personal insight from the author, specifically pertaining to a conductor’s first-time performance of electroacoustic music. This study is not intended to be all-inclusive of the field of electroacoustic music, nor a complete history of electronic music. The scope of this study is intended to focus on this single work; however, an understanding of Bryant’s previous works, most notably those in the electroacoustic wind band idiom, will provide a frame for consideration in the research. Through traditional means of musical analyses in melody, harmony, structure, and other common elements, the research will communicate necessary musical interpretations for future performances of the work. Technical guidance will aid future programming for conductors, as well as encourage advancement of the electroacoustic idiom in music composed for wind band. KEYWORDS: Steven Bryant, The Automatic Earth, Conducting, Band, Wind Ensemble, Electroacoustic Corey S. Bonds (Name of Student) 4/17/2020 (Date) STEVEN BRYANT’S THE AUTOMATIC EARTH: A CONDUCTOR’S ANALYSIS AND PERFORMANCE PERSPECTIVES By Corey S. Bonds Dr. John Cody Birdwell Director of DMA Project Dr. Lance Brunner Director of Graduate Studies 4/17/2020 Date To my wife, Katherine, for your honorable commitment and sacrifice. To my sons, Paxton, Parker, and Price, for your endless energy. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Cody Birdwell for his encouragement and guidance in this project, as well as his vast influence in my development as an educator, ensemble director, and conductor. I would also like to thank my committee, Professor James Campbell, Dr. Kevin Holm-Hudson, and Professor Dmitry Strakovsky for much needed input, advice, and support throughout my coursework, exams, and writing process. Additionally, I would like to thank my colleagues at Campbellsville University for their encouragement and advice through these long, but incredibly rewarding years of study. Finally, much thanks is owed to Professor Gary Hill for his genuine kindness and commitment to creativity, and to Steven Bryant for challenging us all with The Automatic Earth. It, along with your other works, contribute significantly to the wind band medium. I am grateful for your willing input and generosity toward my work. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... vi LIST OF MUSICAL EXAMPLES ................................................................................... vii PART I INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER 1 Methodology, Related Research, and Purpose ............................................. 3 CHAPTER 2 A Brief History of Electronic Music ............................................................. 6 CHAPTER 3 Steven Bryant’s Electroacoustic Works ...................................................... 22 CHAPTER 4 Background and Compositional Process ................................................... 27 CHAPTER 5 Analysis ....................................................................................................... 40 Movement I – “A Slow Fire” .................................................................................... 42 Movement II – “Days of Miracle and Wonder” ........................................................ 49 Movement III – “Shining of Shadow” ....................................................................... 64 Movement IV – “The Automatic Earth” ................................................................... 72 Movement V – “The Language of Light” ................................................................. 86 CHAPTER 6 Performance Perspectives .......................................................................... 92 Conductor Perspectives and Challenges .................................................................... 92 Ensemble Perspectives and Challenges ................................................................... 101 Electronics Perspectives and Challenges ................................................................. 107 CHAPTER 7 Conclusions .............................................................................................. 114 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................ 118 Appendix A Conversations with Steven Bryant about The Automatic Earth ............ 118 February 22, 2019 .................................................................................................... 118 March 7, 2020 .......................................................................................................... 121 Appendix B Conversation with Gary Hill about The Automatic Earth ..................... 129 Appendix C Errata ...................................................................................................... 145 PART II COMPREHENSIVE CONDUCTING RECITAL #1 ..................................................... 148 Program Performed: .................................................................................................... 148 iv Program Notes: ............................................................................................................ 149 COMPREHENSIVE CONDUCTING RECITAL #2 ..................................................... 159 Program Performed: