UC San Diego

This thesis is the sum of two parts. The first is a research paper that investigates the cultural phenomenon of the drummer boy during the American Civil War. Much attention and ink has been devoted to the drummer’s rudiments and battlefield role. I argue that upon surveying the wartime American culture more broadly, the drummer boy was not just a messenger, but a Christ figure for his time; I source contemporary articles, poems, songs, and novels to evidence this claim. The second section of my thesis is a reflection and analysis of my Masters Recital program. Here, I take time to reflect on the personal meaning of this particular performance and provide a brief analysis for each composition in turn