Sexism and Orientalism in Puccini’s Turandot (2020)
The art that we consume is a source of information that largely shapes our society’s culture. With soaring melodies of Orientalism and racist stereotyping, overt sexism and endorsement of rape culture, does Puccini’s Turandot have a place in the canon?
“Isfahan” is a composition written by pianist, composer, and arranger Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967) in 1963, and released on Duke Ellington’s 1967 album titled The Far East Suite. This paper analyzes Strayhorn’s melodic, harmonic, and arranging techniques to see what makes this composition and arrangement iconic.
Sexism, Racism, and Xenophobia in Mozart’s Operas (2020)
Sexism, racism, classism, and nationalist and xenophobic politics exist in Mozart’s great Singspiel opera works, The Magic Flute and The Abduction from the Seraglio, in both subtle and obvious moments woven through the material.
Interview of Marti Epstein (2015)
This interview with composer Marti Epstein was conducted in Fall 2015. I am a huge fan of Marti’s music, and it’s been a dream for me to study with her throughout my time at Berklee. She has granted me many gifts in our time together, whether it be private instruction or group classes. Marti has many gifts to share, be it advice on extended technique, how to break compositional “rules,” open-minded and thought provoking discussion of art and music, how to approach the passing of time within a piece of composed music, or be it her compassionate listening ear.
Robert Schumann Research & Analysis (2016)
In the Winter of 2016, I completed an academic paper and analysis of Robert Schumann’s music and life. Associating his life with his different phases of musical output was, and is, thrilling. I spent long hours to dig up insightful information on Schumann, and used many sources to get these historical stories as accurate as possible. I feel that the stories and associations made in this paper are full of telling information about the human behind the sounds. Naturally, I felt so invested in Schumann by the end of writing this paper. I felt that I had made a friend and then had to write his obituary.
Joshua Fineberg Research & Analysis (2015)
Joshua Fineberg and I had an interview and other forms of communication leading up to the creation of this paper in the Fall of 2015. Studying his work and putting his ideas into words has lent itself to my growth as a composer. Talking to Josh helped my understanding of where art music is at in this day and age. Because art music is somewhat elusive. There is so much, and it’s all vastly different. It’s incredible to learn about how each musical movement has blended into the next movement, and how music is so closely tied to what is happening in visual art. I believe that musical movements are always just behind visual art movements. I am grateful to have communicated so closely with Josh.