Graduation Term

2014

Degree Name

Master of Music (MM)

Department

School of Music

Committee Chair

Martha C. Horst

Abstract

THE STORY OF DON RABBIT AND SEXY CARROT

FOR VARIETY ORCHESTRA

Lisa M. Eleazarian

58 Pages May 2014

This thesis project follows the form and model of a tone poem using a compositional style of cartoon music.

The piece acts as a musical representation of a cartoon, in which a rabbit falls in love with a carrot, chases the carrot, and finally catches the carrot only to eat it and die at the end of his meal. The plot line fits well into sonata form, a common western classical music form. The piece is divided into three movements based on a handful of frames from the cartoon. The first movement introduces the main character. The second movement begins and develops the story. The third movement focuses on one particular frame from the cartoon.

This orchestral piece includes several instruments not commonly found in an orchestra such as two saxophones, an electric guitar, a drum set, a coffee grinder and dish sets. The piece uses these instruments both to create sound effects and to represent the personalities of the characters in the story.

The piece utilizes three main themes. Two of these themes represent the two main characters, while the other represents a love theme. Different events of the story control the development or changes of these themes.

The piece utilizes several different compositional techniques depending on the events of the story. The first movement uses a purely diatonic harmonic language, while the other two movements alternate between diatonic and other harmonic techniques. Several musical genres appear in each movement to represent the characters' personalities and different location settings.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

DOI

http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2014.Eleazarian.L

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