USE OF VARIATION AND FUGUE IN PIANO MUSIC FOLLOWING THE CLASSICAL PERIOD

The variation and fugue originated from the 15th and 16th centuries and blossomed during the Baroque and Classical Periods. In a variation, a theme with a particular structure precedes a series of pieces that usually have the same or very similar structure. A fugue is a work written in imitative counterpoint in which the theme is stated successively in all voices of polyphonic texture. Beethoven’s use of variation and fugue in large scale works greatly influenced his contemporaries. After the Classical Period, variations continued to be popular, and numerous composers employed the technique in various musical genres. Fugues had pedagogical associations, and by the middle of 19th century became a requirement in conservatory instruction, modeled after Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier. In the 20th century, the fugue was revived in the spirit of neoclassicism; it was incorporated in sonatas, and sets of preludes and fugues were composed. Schubert's Wanderer Fantasy presents his song Der Wanderer through thematic transformations, including a fugue and a set of variations. Liszt was highly influenced by this, as shown in his thematic transformations and the fugue as one of the transformations in his Sonata in b. In Schumann’s Symphonic Études, Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Copland’s Piano Variations, the variation serves as the basis for the entire work. Prokofiev and Schubert take a different approach in Piano Concerto No. 3 and Wanderer Fantasy, employing the variation in a single movement. Unlike Schubert and Liszt's use of the fugue as a part of the piece or movement, Franck’s Prelude Chorale et Fugue and Shchedrin’s Polyphonic Notebook use it in its independent form. Since the Classical Period, the variation and fugue have evolved from stylistic and technical influences of earlier composers. It is interesting and remarkable to observe the unique effects each had on a particular work. As true and dependable classic forms, they remain popular by offering the composer an organizational framework for musical imagination.

THE DIVERGENT PATHS OF OPERA IN THE CLASSICAL PERIOD AS SEEN THROUGH THE OPERATIC WORKS OF CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD GLUCK AND WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

Although evidence of Gluck's influence on Mozart is sometimes discernible, by examining the two operas I have performed and a recital of arias by these two composers we can see clear contrasts in their approach to and expression of classical opera. The two operas discussed are Gluck's Armide and Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro. Gluck and Mozart were both innovators but in very different ways. Gluck comes from a dramatic background (his principles have been compared to those of Wagner) and Mozart brings together dramatic excellence with the greatness of his musical genius, his gift of melody, and his ensemble writing, which is arguably unequaled in the repertory. A well-rounded performer strives to understand what the composer is really trying to say with his work, what the message to the audience is and what his particular way of conveying it is. The understanding of a composer's approach to drama and character interaction plays a huge role in character development. This applies no matter what role you are preparing whether it is baroque opera or late romantic. Discovering the ideals, style, and purpose of a composer contributes to an effective and rewarding performance experience, for those on stage, those in the pit, and those sitting in the seats.

MUSICAL THEATER AND THE CLASSICAL VOICE: CROSSOVER SINGING IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

This dissertation explores the transformation of opera comique (as represented by the opera Carmen) and the impact of verismo style (as represented by the opera La Boheme) upon the development of operetta, American musical theater and the resultant change in vocal style. Late nineteenth-century operetta called for a classically trained soprano voice with a clear vibrato. High tessitura and legato were expected although the quality of the voice was usually lighter in timbre. The dissertation comprises four programs that explore the transformation of vocal and compositional style into the current vocal performance practice of American musical theater. The first two programs are operatic roles and the last two are recital presentations of nineteenth- and twentieth- century operetta and musical theater repertoire. Program one, Carmen, was presented on July 26, 2007 at the Marshall Performing Arts Center in Duluth, MN where I sang the role of Micaela. Program two, La Boheme, was presented on May 24,2008 at Randolph Road Theater in Silver Spring, MD where I sang the role of Musetta. Program three, presented on December 2, 2008 and program four, presented on May 10, 2009 were two recitals featuring operetta and musical theater repertoire. These programs were heard in the Gildenhorn Recital Hall at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in College Park, MD. Programs one and two are documented in a digital video format available on digital video disc. Programs three and four are documented in a digital audio format available on compact disc. All programs are accompanied by program notes also available in digital format.

Classical and quantum aspects of the extended antifield formalism

Agrégation de l'enseignement supérieur, Orientation sciences

Impacto del marco institucional en el cambio de paradigma en el sector alpaquero : el caso de los productores alpaqueros del Distrito Corani, Región Puno, Perú

En los últimos años la demanda mundial de fibra de alpaca ha experimentado un gran crecimiento debido a que es considerada una de las fibras más lujosas y finas del mundo, no sólo por sus atributos físicos sino porque es escasa en el mercado, haciéndola más exclusiva. Las ventajas comparativas en el Perú, han permitido que nuestro país ostente el 86,9 por ciento de la producción ganadera mundial de alpacas; sin embargo el sistema de agronegocios de la fibra de alpaca se ha caracterizado durante años por un alto nivel de intermediación en la comercialización y limitada capacidad de negociación de los criadores de alpacas, altos costos de transacción e información asimétrica. Históricamente la fibra de alpaca en el Perú se ha comercializado como un commodity, la estructura de gobernanza entre criadores de alpaca y compradores era el mercado spot. En este sentido, el objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar las innovaciones organizacionales y tecnológicas adoptadas por los pequeños y medianos productores alpaqueros del distrito de Corani ante el impulso del ambiente institucional, a fin de poder describir las mejoras en el subsistema estrictamente coordinado (SSEC). La metodología de trabajo utilizada fue la epistemología fenomenológica combinada con un análisis estructural discreto con énfasis en las innovaciones. Para ello se realizó un análisis a nivel institucional, organizacional y tecnológico del subsistema de la Región Puno y del caso de los productores alpaqueros del distrito de Corani, que a través de su forma asociativa lograron una coordinación horizontal y a la vez vertical mediante los representantes de su Comité de Acopio, logrando adaptarse y cambiar el paradigma tradicional, y de esta forma tomar un rol más activo y colectivo en el acopio, clasificación, proceso y comercialización de la fibra de alpaca con valor agregado. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que se rompió el path dependecy trabajando de forma colectiva apoyados en organizaciones públicas y privadas del sector, adquirieron mayores niveles de coordinación para gobernar el intercambio de una manera eficiente y reducir los costos de transacción. La finalidad de este estudio es obtener las herramientas necesarias y promover la acción colectiva y la coordinación de otras organizaciones de productores del subsistema de fibra de alpaca de la Región de Puno.

Has cultural studies sounded the death-knell of classical sociology prematurely?: the view from Romani studies

The paper will argue that although Bryan S.Turner's recent defence of classical sociology was seen as apostacy by some, it points to real problems in the idealism and a-historicism of contemporary cultural studies. The paper will examine the importance of the classical sociological problematic in getting the field of Romani Studies started, and the continuing relevance of a sociological approach rooted in history and political economy. [From the Author]

Economic restructuring in New Zealand: A classical account

New Zealand's recent experiment with radical neoliberalism is well rehearsed in international policy circles. Yet, given the economic restructuring premise for the reforms, there has been little assessment of their structural impact. In this paper I take up this challenge, utilising [Shaikh, A., Tonak, E. Measuring the wealth of nations: the political economy of national accounts. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1994] methodology for deriving classical value categories from official national accounts data but extending this to the industry level. This approach allows changes to the production and appropriation of surplus value in different industries during the period to be identified, underpinning a Marxian interpretation of restructuring. Beyond the methodology, the research makes four contributions. First, conventional analysis is found limited by its concentration on changes to the distribution of value rather than its creation. Second, land rents are significant. Third, the role of financial capital is found more complex than traditionally argued. Finally, the approach provides a firm grounding for the unfashionable concept of class fraction.

Classical Romantic: Identity in the Latin Poetry of Vincent Bourne

This monograph examines a selection of Vincent Bourne's Latin verse in its classical, neo-Latin and vernacular contexts, with particular attention to the theme of identity (and differing forms of identity). Its aim is to initiate the resurrection from silence of an author whose self-fashioning is achieved by investigating the identity of the self in relation to the other and by foregrounding multiple attempts to fashion other selves.

From Back Cover of published book:

Through close and perceptive analysis of Bourne's negotiation of poetic identity, Haan argues in new ways for the blend of classicism and Romanticism informing his marginalized status. As such, the book promises to revive scholarship on Bourne, and to be of use to students and scholars of Latin as well as vernacular verse.
Carla Mazzio, Professor of English, University of Chicago.


Estelle Haan is the UK's most eminent neo-Latinist. Her books with the APS on Milton (From Academia to Amicitia, Transactions 88, part 6) and Addison (Vergilius Redivivus, Transactions 95, part 2) are both important contributions to our knowledge of those authors, and their scholarship is presented in a way that accommodates the growing number of specialists who do not read Latin. Much of the content of this study is entirely new, and it is written in a way that will make it accessible to non-Latinists. The connections with English-language poets that Professor Haan adduces page after page will be a very considerable resource for students of vernacular poetry.
Gordon Campbell, Professor of Renaissance Literature, University of Leicester.


I have long thought that a modern study of Vincent Bourne was very much needed, and am greatly pleased that one has now been written. Estelle Haan offers a thoughtful and sensitive study that has remarkable depth. She capitalizes on the familiarity with other eighteenth-century English poets about whom she has previously written (Cowper, Gray, and most recently Addison) and she makes use of contempoary literary theory without becoming dependent on any single approach or disfiguring her writing with critical jargon. This work will, one hopes, provoke further research into Bourne and his poetry.
Dana F. Sutton, Professor Emeritus of Classics, The University of California, Irvine.

Simulation of quantum random walks using the interference of a classical field

We suggest a theoretical scheme for the simulation of quantum random walks on a line using beam splitters, phase shifters, and photodetectors. Our model enables us to simulate a quantum random walk using of the wave nature of classical light fields. Furthermore, the proposed setup allows the analysis of the effects of decoherence. The transition from a pure mean-photon-number distribution to a classical one is studied varying the decoherence parameters.

Classical computation with quantum systems

As semiconductor electronic devices scale to the nanometer range and quantum structures (molecules, fullerenes, quantum dots, nanotubes) are investigated for use in information processing and storage, it, becomes useful to explore the limits imposed by quantum mechanics on classical computing. To formulate the problem of a quantum mechanical description of classical computing, electronic device and logic gates are described as quantum sub-systems with inputs treated as boundary conditions, outputs expressed.is operator expectation values, and transfer characteristics and logic operations expressed through the sub-system Hamiltonian. with constraints appropriate to the boundary conditions. This approach, naturally, leads to a description of the subsystem.,, in terms of density matrices. Application of the maximum entropy principle subject to the boundary conditions (inputs) allows for the determination of the density matrix (logic operation), and for calculation of expectation values of operators over a finite region (outputs). The method allows for in analysis of the static properties of quantum sub-systems.