Date of Award
12-2015
Degree Name
Master of Music
Department
Music
First Advisor
Dr. Lisa R. Coons
Second Advisor
Dr. Richard Adams
Third Advisor
Dr. Christopher Biggs
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Matthew Steel
Keywords
Chamber music, string quartet, I'Art Brut, timbre, texture
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
l’Art Brut , also commonly referred to as “outsider art,” is comprised of a variety of visual media by untrained or mentally ill artists. The string quartet is subtitled this because it takes inspiration from the work of these artists; with its jagged edges, vibrant colors, and horrid scenes, there is an organic beauty inherent in such eclectic and divergent art. Another factor which drew me to the artwork of the mentally ill was the commonality of Kenophobia: an abnormal fear of empty spaces. Schizophrenic, Swiss artists, Adolf Wölfli (18641930) and Aloïse Corbaz (18861964) were noted for suffering this phobia and realizing it through their art. Every inch of canvas on a Wölfli or Corbaz painting is covered with color and intricate design. I channeled this phobia in regard to timing and development of my work. Each section is timed precisely, so the cohesive whole, much like a painting, is a journey of density, texture, timbre, atmosphere, and character.
Recommended Citation
Walasavage, Bernie, "String Quartet, brut" (2015). Masters Theses. 673.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/673
Included in
Composition Commons, Musicology Commons, Music Theory Commons