Viktor Ullmann: a style analysis of selected Theresienstadt compositions featuring piano
Date
2022-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Viktor Ullmann was an Austrian composer who was born in 1898 into a Jewish family. He was
incarcerated in the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1942, where he wrote some of his most significant
compositions for voice and piano. This study attempts to complete stylistic analyses of selected
compositions with piano from the Theresienstadt period in order to gain insights into Ullmann’s
compositional approach to the instrument. The following questions were considered about the
composer’s output:
1. What stylistic characteristics can be attributed to Viktor Ullmann's compositions featuring the
piano during his mature Theresienstadt period?
2. Which aspects of Victor Ullmann’s style (and influences on his compositional choices) could be
considered so distinctive that they contribute towards an understanding of his musical
contribution, should the composer’s music be studied within a wider 20th Century context?
The Research Methodology comprises various methods of stylistic analysis inspired by the writings
of Leonard Meyer and Jan LaRue.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Viktor Ullmann was 'n Oostenrykse komponis van Joodse afkoms. Hy is in 1898 gebore en was vanaf 1942 ‘n gevangene in die Theresienstadt-ghetto, waar hy van sy belangrikste komposisies vir stem en klavier gekomponeer het. Hierdie studie poog om 'n stylistiese ontleding van geselekteerde komposisies met klavier uit die Theresienstadt-tydperk daar te stel, ten einde insig in Ullmann se komposionele benadering tot die instrument te kry. Dit lei tot die volgende vrae: 1. Watter stylistiese kenmerke kan tydens Viktor Ullmann se volwasse Theresienstadt-tydperk in sy komposisies met klavier identifiseer word? 2. Watter aspekte van Victor Ullmann se styl (en invloed op sy komposisionele keuses), kan tot so ‘n mate as tiperend beskou word dat dit kan lei tot ‘n beter begrip van sy bydrae, sou die komponis binne ‘n wyer 20ste Eeuse konteks bestudeer word? Die Navorsingsmetodologie is geskoei op styl-analitiese metodes van Leonard Meyer en Jan LaRue.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Viktor Ullmann was 'n Oostenrykse komponis van Joodse afkoms. Hy is in 1898 gebore en was vanaf 1942 ‘n gevangene in die Theresienstadt-ghetto, waar hy van sy belangrikste komposisies vir stem en klavier gekomponeer het. Hierdie studie poog om 'n stylistiese ontleding van geselekteerde komposisies met klavier uit die Theresienstadt-tydperk daar te stel, ten einde insig in Ullmann se komposionele benadering tot die instrument te kry. Dit lei tot die volgende vrae: 1. Watter stylistiese kenmerke kan tydens Viktor Ullmann se volwasse Theresienstadt-tydperk in sy komposisies met klavier identifiseer word? 2. Watter aspekte van Victor Ullmann se styl (en invloed op sy komposisionele keuses), kan tot so ‘n mate as tiperend beskou word dat dit kan lei tot ‘n beter begrip van sy bydrae, sou die komponis binne ‘n wyer 20ste Eeuse konteks bestudeer word? Die Navorsingsmetodologie is geskoei op styl-analitiese metodes van Leonard Meyer en Jan LaRue.
Description
Thesis (MMus)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.
Keywords
Viktor Ullmann -- Style, Theresienstadt (Concentration camp), Jews -- Music -- History and criticism, Jewish composers, Style, Musical -- Analysis, Atonality, UCTD