Major Research Papers
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Collection consists of Major Research Papers (MRP) produced by students in the Graduate Program in Music that have received a ranking of "approved with distinction." This collection is managed by the Graduate Program Assistant in Music. Deposits to this collection must be authorized by the Graduate Program Assistant in Music and the chair of the department.
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Item Open Access Cultural Connections Through Music: Finding Belonging(2022-03-28) Chan, Patty; Wrazen, Louise; van der Bliek, RobertThere has been little documentation about the history and development of Chinese music, specifically traditional Chinese orchestral music, of the Chinese diaspora in Canada. Music is an important link for immigrants to their homeland and serves to bring people together and preserve cultural heritage. After generations of living in Canada, music can also bring connection to Chinese Canadians who are searching for their cultural roots. Finally, this music can help bridge with cultures outside of the Chinese community. In this paper, I will explain the role of the Chinese orchestra in the diaspora, document its history and development, impact on individuals and their communities, their challenges, and successes. The history and legacy of Toronto’s first Chinese orchestra, the Chinese Instrumental Music Group of Toronto, will also be explored. I will summarize firsthand interviews with traditional musicians, leaders, and founders of Chinese orchestras across Canada, providing valuable insight into their experiences in this artform, far away from Asia. An essential application of this research is to discover ways for these musicians and orchestras to work together, exchange ideas and find solutions to ensure the future and development of this unique and valuable musical genre.Item Open Access Introduction, Variations, and Finale on Victimae Paschali Laudes(2021-12) Pumfrey, Tate; Martin, Stephanie; Peters, RandolphInspired by Gregorian chant, the Modes of Limited Transposition, and techniques of 20th-century music, with an advanced organist in mind, Introduction, Variations, and Finale on Victimae Paschali Laudes, for organ solo, is based on the 11th-century plainsong Victimae Paschali Laudes. This approximately fifteen-minute-long work honours the long heritage of organ music, while juxtaposing traditional and contemporary elements in form, harmony, rhythm, and texture within a single work. Consisting of a Theme and nine variations bookended by outer movements, this form is one of my own devising. The work features synthetic scales, polychords, Neo-Riemannian permutations, modal simultaneities, and irregular metrical structures, with inspiration from Leclerc, Messiaen, Stravinsky, Langlais, and Escaich. This combination of influences and technical considerations creates a composition which is unique within my catalogue while honouring and building upon the tradition of chant-based organ works.Item Open Access "Batting Time Away" : Experiences of Time and Timelessness in Ensemble Electroacoustic Improvisation(2021) Sheahan, Daniel; Van Nort, DougThis research project investigates the experiences of time and timelessness in musicians performing in freely improvised, electroacoustic music contexts over telematic connection. For this project, 7 trio ensembles were organized, recruiting free-improvisers with experience in electroacoustic performance, primarily from within the free-improvisation community in Toronto, Canada, as well as other international locations. Each ensemble was asked to convene through the online meeting portal Zoom to perform in 30-40 minute improvisation sets without any intervention. 4 ensembles were asked to perform in a semi-structured format of improvisation involving players initially taking turns performing solos/duets before completing the remainder of the set as a trio, while 3 ensembles were asked to perform in a more unstructured format together as a trio for the duration of the improvisation. After each performance, ensemble members participated in an open-discussion-style interview where each was asked to comment on their experiences of the flow of time, their sense of timelessness throughout performance, and what they believe to be the possible factors that influence these experiences. The purpose of this research project is to outline certain trends found in the experience of the flow of time, or the sense of timelessness, in performers of ensemble electroacoustic improvisation (EAI), performing under certain structural constraints, and whether these trends are similar or fundamentally different than such experiences while listening to electroacoustic music recordings. The results will show that, although the act of deep listening played a crucial role in participants’ performances, they were more or less consciously aware of other aspects of the live performance throughout the improvisation. These include points of awareness and attention, intentionality, engagement and emotional involvement, that contribute not only to sensations of time and timelessness in players, but also to players’ abilities to improvise successfully as a collective. This project aims to contribute to the growing research on electroacoustic music, performance studies, and perceived experiences of time/timelessness in contemporary electroacoustic music practices.Item Open Access Cultural Identity within the Chinese Community in Toronto Examined Through the Chinese Orchestra - A Study on the Toronto Chinese Orchestra(2021) Kwan, Kenny Man Hin; Coughlan, MichaelEthnic Chinese comprise the second largest visible minority group in Canada, making up 21% of Canada’s visible minority population and 4% of its total population (StatsCan 2011). They consistently rank as one of the three largest groups immigrating into Canada. According to the national household survey taken in 2011, over 70% of all Chinese Canadians live in two cities (40.1% in Toronto and 31.1% in Vancouver) (Ibid. 16). Despite their large population and a field of literature on the topic of Chinese Canadians, there is surprisingly little written on their musical activity. Similarly, research on Chinese diasporic music is also limited despite the prevalence of studies on the Chinese diaspora and Chinese music individually. This major research paper will look at the cultural identities in the Chinese community in Toronto through the development of its Chinese orchestral activities. The paper will examine specifically the identity of the Toronto Chinese Orchestra, the longest running Chinese orchestra in Canada and the largest in Ontario. The paper will comprise of three main sections: 1) Overview of the history and development of the modern Chinese orchestra as a vehicle to express cultural identity within the Chinese ethnicity in the twentieth century 2) Overview of the history and development of the Chinese orchestra in Toronto in relation to Chinese migration 3) Analysis on the cultural identity of Toronto Chinese Orchestra, based on its activities and repertoireItem Open Access Breathing Solutions for Woodwind Practitioners(2021) Grist, Ryan; Henderson, AlInstruction methods for playing woodwind instruments often inadequately address breathing. There is no standardized approach. It is often described imprecisely, thus resulting in a poor understanding and application of breathing concepts. This project first offers a clear definition of how the human body breathes to remove common misconceptions and correct language used in pedagogy. The most applicable concepts to playing a woodwind are highlighted. Instrument histories, limited to the flute, clarinet and saxophone, are then given to inform our understanding of how they have evolved to our present day instruments. Subsequently, the connection between our body’s physiology and wellbeing is explored through current research into the power of the breath. Finally, this leads to an amalgamation of these concepts and a practical methodology is presented. This aims to enhance learning and practice through the integration of established breathing and wellness concepts.Item Open Access Dead Reckoning - A Canadian Chamber Musical(2021-04) Christian, Scott; Martin, Stephanie; Schweitzer, MarlisDead Reckoning is a new Canadian musical composed by Scott Christian, with book and lyrics by Lezlie Wade. Part 1 of this major research project describes the four-year creation and development process of the musical, referencing interviews with collaborator Lezlie Wade. Part 2 is based on interviews conducted with twenty-three Canadian musical theatre composers and explores the topics: the composer’s role in the planning phase of a new musical, individual approaches to starting with lyrics or music first, describing the compositional process for musical theatre, and compositional approaches for the history musical. Part 3 comprises an analysis of the score of Dead Reckoning, focusing on the ‘flight’ leitmotif, the opening number, the songs rooted in the Western Art music tradition, the songs which utilize elements of jazz music and other music of the historical period in which the piece is set, and the songs which most reflect a contemporary musical theatre style.Item Open Access Music Education for Seminarians in Toronto's Christian Theological Colleges and Seminaries(2021-04-21) Moreno, SebastianDespite music’s importance during Christian worship and the responsibility of ordained ministers to organize and implement worship, limited research has been conducted on music education in Canadian seminaries. This study examines music education at nine Catholic and Protestant theological colleges and seminaries in Toronto. In-classroom education and education as part of the formation process is analyzed to determine: 1) the structure of seminarian music education curricula, 2) the qualifications of seminary music educators, 3) the quantity of music education as it relates to key skills relevant to ordained ministry, and 4) the perceived effectiveness of seminarians’ education in those key skills. Interviews, using a mixed method set of questions, were conducted with informants from each institution. Analysis indicates that most seminaries provide an insufficient quantity and quality of music education. Differences between ecclesiastical traditions revealed a greater emphasis on performance skills at Catholic seminaries and a greater emphasis on the understanding of congregational song at Protestant seminaries. Quantity of education was also determined to be a significant indicator of educational quality. These results suggest that most seminaries should provide a greater quantity of music education during the formation process that focuses on the skills most relevant to its ecclesiastical tradition.