Masters Thesis

The cross-pollination of musical ideas across the sacred and secular solo voice genres

The synthesis of the human voice and an instrument provides an unparalleled communicative exchange, it is one we have perfected and evolved over years of musical development. Aided by the sentiments of a text well supported by music, two artists can create a world of musical colors, imagery, and expressions warranting highly emotional reactions from their listeners. The music and poetry of songs function concurrently to create an effect of expression. Whether the text be sacred or secular, its declamation is of the utmost importance and is best reinforced and exalted through carefully crafted musical compositions. Church songs/hymns and secular art songs have often influenced one another in various genres. Monody has long been a transfer of liturgical information and of paramount importance in the church. Its influence has been felt in its secular contemporaries and vice versa with secular melodies making their way into the church hall affixed with new sacred texts. Many vocal composers have written for both the sacred performance venue and the secular performance hall, allowing a flow of influence between the two genres. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was one such composer, writing deftly in both styles and allowing the cross-pollination of either's influence. (See more in text.)

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