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Essay for Orchestra
- French, Daniel
- Advisor(s): Krouse, Ian
Abstract
Essay for Orchestra is a single movement musical composition. The instrumentation is for large, modern orchestra, including an unusually large percussion complement, two keyboard instruments, and the addition of electric guitar. The music is non-programmatic in nature and abstract in construction, derived primarily from the manipulation and development of a few, simple musical objects. The title and overall structure refer to the musical essay form as first conceived by the American composer Samuel Barber.