The melodic and polyrhythmic development of John Coltrane's spontaneous composition in a racist society.
Item
-
Title
-
The melodic and polyrhythmic development of John Coltrane's spontaneous composition in a racist society.
-
Identifier
-
AAI9108116
-
identifier
-
9108116
-
Creator
-
Hester, Karlton Edward.
-
Contributor
-
Adviser: Howard Brofsky
-
Date
-
1990
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Music | Education, Music | Black Studies
-
Abstract
-
Coltrane's musical evolution involved an absorption of African and Asiatic music and culture. He systematically absorbed and utilized the elements of at least five definitive American musical styles: blues, bebop, hardbop, "modal jazz," and developed his own personal approach to the so-called "free jazz" of the sixties. His adroit saxophone technique greatly expanded the musical language not only for that instrument, but for all twentieth-century performers. Showing the ways in which these accomplishments were achieved is a main concern of this research.;Although most musicians and serious listeners acknowledge the strength, beauty, and uniqueness of Coltrane's music from his first three stylistic periods, it is his final period that is usually the most controversial. The final chapter of this dissertation, therefore, attempts to demonstrate that the spontaneous compositions of Coltrane's most mature stylistic period is not aimed at the annihilation of musical systems, but, rather, is the culmination of a systematic musical evolution that was nurtured throughout his career (virtually without interruption). The analysis of his compositional suite, Interstellar Space, is largely intended to show various elements of the composer's earlier stylistic characteristics as expressed within the more sophisticated improvisational structure of his fourth period.;Coltrane states throughout his career that he is concerned with improving his modes of musical "expression." His spiritual growth and his musical development were indivisible in the composer's mind. Although it is difficult to convincingly discuss such personal and intangible factors in Coltrane's life and music, their extreme significance to him demands that they remain united in any discussion of his creative output.;In tracing Coltrane's musical evolution I have tried to shape this dissertation in a fashion that reflects the nature of his music to some extent. I have tried to allow both the music and the musicians involved in creating it to often speak for themselves. Although I have tried to adhere to the basic requirements of systematic research, I have also tried to avoid letting this same process interfere with the expression of the ideas I originally aspired to present and develop. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
