UCLA

This dissertation consists of two volumes; the first volume is a monograph and the second a music composition.

Volume I

American composer Christopher Theofanidis's orchestral work Rainbow Body operates on the synthesis of two disparate entities. Although based on a 12th century liturgical chant written by German abbess Hildegard of Bingen, the composition uses a Tibetan Buddhist term as its title, thereby offering a new perspective towards the familiar religious practice to the western world through a pluralistic lens. Similarly, this neo-modal composition reinterprets traditional harmony and counterpoint by carefully superimposing two different musical elements such as a non-harmonic tone and its tone of resolution. This dissertation investigates how the composer achieves such synthesis in his music by first exploring the historical and cultural backdrop in which the composition emerged. Then, it analyzes how the piece utilizes Hildegard's chant and other traditional musical languages and breaks away from it.

Volume II

Inner Voices for Orchestra is an orchestral composition that liberally incorporates minimalism and sound-mass techniques. This loosely tripartite work begins by setting the pulse, establishing the harmonic language, and introducing the main theme. The initial pulsating pitch grows into a complex chord by accumulating different notes that sporadically enter with strong attacks. The harmony then gradually morphs by subtracting and adding notes, eventually turning into a chromatic aggregate. The middle part explores the melodic development of the materials that first appeared in the first part. Finally, the last part combines both the pulsating and melodic elements and bring them to the triumphant conclusion.