Date of Award

4-2007

Degree Name

Master of Music

Department

Music

First Advisor

C. Curtis-Smith

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

My composition is a tone poem based on the Old English epic poem Beowulf Specifically, this piece depicts Beowulf s three battles with three diverse monsters. The first Grendel, second Grendel's mother, and last a dragon. In this composition, the music does not follow any specific or traditional forms. Instead, each episode is presented as a picture of each event.

The choice to depict the story of Beowulf was an interesting choice. While historically the story is significant, it is not a very popular one. The poem is the oldest surviving manuscript written in Old English. However, more recent (relatively) authors have given more inspiration to musical pieces such as Shakespeare or Milton. Therefore, I hope that my piece will shed more light on a piece of significant literature. As well, as help to renew interest in the tone poem as a musical form.

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