Defense Date

3-29-2010

Graduation Date

Spring 2010

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

thesis

Degree Name

MM

Department

Music Theory

School

Mary Pappert School of Music

Committee Chair

Jessica Wiskus

Committee Member

Benjamin Binder

Committee Member

Marie Agatha Ozah

Committee Member

Carole Riley

Keywords

Eastern, Orientalism, Saint-Saens, Western

Abstract

Subtleties in art and music have always been a factor in swaying people's ideas and opinions. Some pieces of music make a direct attempt to communicate and influence how one should view a certain group of people or a culture, often creating a great social divide and a tense atmosphere. Ralph Locke and Edward Said explain "Orientalism" as "a corporate institution for dealing with the Orient- dealing with it by making statements about it . . . a Western style for dominating, restructuring, and having authority over the Orient." Though Orientalism began as working with just a Far Eastern sound, the term soon expanded to include all music that is meant to sound foreign to a particular group of listeners. This study continues to look at Saint-Saens' Samson et Dalila through the eyes of Locke and further examines the composer's use of Middle Eastern compositional techniques, including instrumentation, use of Arab modes, and use of threatening melodies and rhythms. These techniques are examined with respect to the way that they effectively communicate and manipulate the audience's perception of characters in the work.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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