Advisor

Singleton, Kenneth

Advisor

Reddick, Carissa

Committee Member

Dickensheets, Janice

Department

Music

Institution

University of Northern Colorado

Type of Resources

Text

Place of Publication

Greeley (Colo.)

Publisher

University of Northern Colorado

Date Created

3-11-2016

Genre

Thesis

Extent

267 pages

Digital Origin

Born digital

Abstract

Jason Robert Brown is emerging as one of Broadway’s top musical theater composers. The majority of musical theater scholarship focuses on extra-musical elements; the only composer who has been examined by the music academy is Stephen Sondheim. Brown has been described as a “disciple” of Sondheim, and is on his way to equaling his predecessor’s longevity and fame. This study examines the compositional style of Brown, and explores his ability to use musical elements to enhance the drama of the musical through his first four productions: Songs For A New World, Parade, The Last Five Years, and 13. Brown’s treatment of song forms and types, rhythmic tendencies, and allusions to various styles are included. Throughout this research, comparisons are made to composers from the Golden Age of musical theater, as well as contemporary composers such as Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Degree type

D.A.

Degree Name

Doctoral

Language

English

Local Identifiers

Voelker_unco_0161D_10464.pdf

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by the author.

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