Date of Award
5-2023
Degree Name
Master of Music
Department
Music
First Advisor
Walczak, Christopher M.
Second Advisor
Presar, Jennifer
Third Advisor
Butler, Christopher
Abstract
An Air Travel Journey combines the two areas of music and aviation. The composition aims to musically illustrate the different stages of a commercial flight (pre-takeoff taxiing, takeoff, cruise, landing, post-landing taxiing). In the “pre-takeoff” taxiing stage of the piece, the various pauses heard represent the constant stopping that occurs when an aircraft is taxiing on a runway. The music in this stage contains a relaxed and lyrical tone. In the transitions to “takeoff”, the tempo of the piece increases along with the volume to illustrate the increase in motion of a flight during this time. However, afterwards, in the transition to the “cruise” section, the music slows back down again to match the decrease in action that would happen on a flight when moving from takeoff to the ascent to cruise altitude. The cruise portion of the flight is the most relaxing portion. As such, the music heard in the composition has a soft and relaxing tone. Motivic ideas appear across different instruments. When transition from the “cruise” to the landing section, the tempo slows down like how an aircraft slows down when descending for landing. The tone of the piece becomes livelier during the composition. The “landing” section is the climax of the composition. The volume is loud, and a unison brass melody is heard followed by a chord spread throughout the ensemble. Finally, in the “post landing taxiing” section, the volume immediately becomes softer and contains pauses resembling the beginning of the composition. The work ends on a soft chord to illustrate the end of the flight.
Access
This thesis is only available for download to the SIUC community. Current SIUC affiliates may also access this paper off campus by searching Dissertations & Theses @ Southern Illinois University Carbondale from ProQuest. Others should contact the interlibrary loan department of your local library or contact ProQuest's Dissertation Express service.