Date of Award
6-2019
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Music
First Advisor
Dr. Maria Cristina Fava
Second Advisor
Dr. Michael Duffy
Third Advisor
Dr. Lori Sims
Keywords
C. Curtis Smith, bio-bibliography, composition, biography
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Curtis Otto Bismarck Curtis-Smith, composer and pianist, spent the majority of his career serving the community at Western Michigan University. His development of the bowed piano technique contributed significantly to the course of music in the late twentieth century; his prolific compositions stand on their own artistic merit. This document attempts to provide a summation of the composer’s life, particularly in regard to his compositional activity. The first section, a biography, discusses Curtis-Smith’s life and the changes to his compositional style over his lifetime. Next, a catalog of works details the available information about the many pieces written by the composer. Finally, an annotated bibliography examines the literature surrounding the composer and his work during his lifetime and shortly after.
Recommended Citation
Wittman, Hollis Claire, "Curtis Otto Bismarck Curtis-Smith" (2019). Masters Theses. 4591.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4591