Date of Award

6-30-2016

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Department

School of Music

First Advisor

Larry Wyatt

Abstract

Recent paradigm shifts in music production have generated a newly recognized texture formed by blending two or more pre-existent and pre-recorded songs together. Originating in pop culture, mash-ups often sample from genres and cultures otherwise not typically associated. This new form requires formal definition, codification, and application. Developments in digital coding and dissemination of the latter twentieth century expanded the diapason of music composition, revealing the mash-up as a naturally occurring product of harmonic evolution. A description of the computer software Audacity and its capabilities depicts an uncomplicated aural-based method for composition which generated the early mash-ups of the 2000’s. This document will include brief analyses of “Just the Way You Are/Just a Dream” from the 2011 motion picture Pitch Perfect and “Let Me Fly” arranged by classical composer Matthew Herman to provide a basic codification of this emerging form. This research suggests abundant possibilities for practical applications to create and develop innovative choral mash-ups in 21st century choral performance practice. The proposed methodology incorporates traditional choral arranging practices with current music production software and includes ideas for live interactive performance practices. Creating a mash-up from Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai with a hybrid approach of written score and sonic analysis using Audacity software demonstrates its accessible application in programming, engaging the conductor and singer in a collaborative process. The ensuing results suggest the mash-up may bridge the gap between virtual and live media and reveal a need for conducting and rehearsal methods that include recorded music as part of the choral experience.

Rights

© 2016, Justin Xavier Carteret

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