Symmetries in Practice: Ruth Crawford Seeger's Diaphonic Suites in Graphical Representation, Technical Analysis, and Historiographic Discussion

Alyssa Civian, Oberlin College

Location

Science Center, A255

Document Type

Presentation

Start Date

4-25-2014 1:30 PM

End Date

4-25-2014 2:30 PM

Abstract

This paper re/presents Ruth Crawford Seeger’s four Diaphonic Suites (1930-1) and represents the first collective analysis of these works. Herein I use historiographic critique, as well as graphical analysis, to both “present” these pieces by providing a structural overview and “represent” them by revealing problematic aesthetic and analytical trends in the last 40 years of scholarship. In doing so, my research uncovers valuable symmetries across the suites and their histories and offers a new understanding of these works and contemporary music theory itself.

Notes

Session I, Panel 4 - Aesthetics of Musical Composition
Moderator: Rebecca Leydon, Associate Professor of Music Theory

Major

Musical Studies; Theater

Advisor(s)

Allen Cadwallader, Music Theory
Daniel James, Theater

Project Mentor(s)

Devin Burke, Musicology

April 2014

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Apr 25th, 1:30 PM Apr 25th, 2:30 PM

Symmetries in Practice: Ruth Crawford Seeger's Diaphonic Suites in Graphical Representation, Technical Analysis, and Historiographic Discussion

Science Center, A255

This paper re/presents Ruth Crawford Seeger’s four Diaphonic Suites (1930-1) and represents the first collective analysis of these works. Herein I use historiographic critique, as well as graphical analysis, to both “present” these pieces by providing a structural overview and “represent” them by revealing problematic aesthetic and analytical trends in the last 40 years of scholarship. In doing so, my research uncovers valuable symmetries across the suites and their histories and offers a new understanding of these works and contemporary music theory itself.