First Advisor

Malde, Melissa

Document Type

Dissertation

Date Created

5-2021

Department

College of Performing and Visual Arts, Music, Music Student Work

Abstract

When selecting repertoire, teachers of singing do not often turn to lullabies. The consensus is they are too simple in melody, texture, and harmony to warrant attention. However, this commonly held view should be reconsidered because lullabies can offer dramatic text settings. Lullabies can be divided into two categories: those for practical use and those for performance. The latter are composed as art songs written from many perspectives. They can be nationalistic, violent, frustrated, funny, and can use sleep as a metaphor for the release of death. This wealth of subject matter and variety of styles and skill levels found in art song lullabies make them a viable choice for study and performance. While most lullabies conform to the expected characteristics (lilting meter, etc.), many stray away from the standard in surprising and expressive ways. This document includes a catalog of lullabies written for concert performance whose scores are readily available. The catalog is organized by language and includes the poet, source, key, and range for each song, providing singers and teachers of singing an aid in exploring this unusual and often ignored repertoire.

Extent

157 pages

Local Identifiers

Scroggins_unco_0161D_10926.pdf

Rights Statement

Copyright is held by the author.

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