Coghlan, Michael2018-11-212018-11-212017-11-102018-11-21http://hdl.handle.net/10315/35475This thesis is comprised of two parts: six recorded original compositions and this paper, which includes an autobiographical survey of my musical influences and an analysis of the compositions. The compositions are all instrumental, written in a modern folk/bluegrass style. This paper discusses my influences and how they affect my writing. In the analysis section, I discuss how each composition has been directly influenced, and how modern recording has become part of the compositional process. The thesis also considers my personal creative experience in writing and recording in a modern studio and live performance context.enAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.Electronic Thesis or Dissertation2018-11-21MusicFolkBluegrassCompositionAcousticAmericanInstrumental