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The Resource Nicodemus! The beds are burning again : The ascension of Gorgomath, by Michael Brian Miller

Nicodemus! The beds are burning again : The ascension of Gorgomath, by Michael Brian Miller

Creator
Composer
Contributor
Summary
Nicodemus! The Beds are Burning Again: The Ascension of Gorgomath is a 22-minute concerto for piano and chamber orchestra that explores the use of narrative as a means of unifying disparate musical languages into a cohesive single-movement structure. The narrative, as implied by the fourteen programmatic indicators within the score, features a protagonist, Nicodemus, and an antagonist, Gorgomath. Additional contrasting elements essential to the plot are: the burning beds, outer space, the ultimate weapon, and the three rituals. The programmatic indicators, to be listed in the program, function as a framework from which the listener can fabricate their own version of the story. The narrative begins with 2The beds are burning,3 a heavy-metal inspired musical theme characterized by a pervasive rhythmic structure interspersed with virtuosic piano displays. Full orchestral forces add to the intensity of a relentless motor rhythm heard first in the piano. Following 2Ritual I,3 a transitionary theme of soli strings and piano, Nicodemuss theme develops, a musical antithesis to 2The Burning Beds3 theme. It employs a simple melodic loop over a basic four-chord harmonic structure, reminiscent of 8-bit video game themes, and is voiced as piano accompanied by tremolo in the woodwinds and strings. Nicodemuss journey into space begins with a rapid deceleration in tempo. The following slow ternary form includes a funerary dirge bookended by the pieces most lyrical piano writing, expressed by the rise and fall of melodic octaves. The pounding neo-Shostakovian strings of 2Ritual II3 transition directly into the development section, 2Nicodemus seeks the ultimate weapon.3 Nicodemuss theme undergoes significant transformation, assuming the guise of stride piano and North Indian tabla music. These styles are unique to this section, as is their orchestration of high, sustained winds alternating with orchestral hits between low strings and percussion. The pieces recapitulation, 2Meanwhile&,3 begins with a return of the burning beds. Here, 2Gorgomaths Theme,3 identifiable by the instability of its 7/16 motor rhythm is briefly foreshadowed. It appears in its entirety in the coda, 2Boss Battle.3 The resulting work uses original narrative to blend polystylistic elements into a cohesive single movement structure with a dramatic musical arc
Work
Publication
Extent
1 online resource (1 score (ix, 153 pages))
Note
  • "A dissertation in Music Composition."
  • Advisor: Paul Rudy
  • Vita
Contents
  • Abstract
  • Instrumentation
  • Program listing
  • Nicodemus! The beds are burning again: the ascension of Gorgomath
  • Vita
Instance
Label
Nicodemus! The beds are burning again : The ascension of Gorgomath
Title
Nicodemus! The beds are burning again
Title remainder
The ascension of Gorgomath
Statement of responsibility
by Michael Brian Miller
Creator
Contributor
Composer
Degree supervisor
Subject
Genre
Summary
Nicodemus! The Beds are Burning Again: The Ascension of Gorgomath is a 22-minute concerto for piano and chamber orchestra that explores the use of narrative as a means of unifying disparate musical languages into a cohesive single-movement structure. The narrative, as implied by the fourteen programmatic indicators within the score, features a protagonist, Nicodemus, and an antagonist, Gorgomath. Additional contrasting elements essential to the plot are: the burning beds, outer space, the ultimate weapon, and the three rituals. The programmatic indicators, to be listed in the program, function as a framework from which the listener can fabricate their own version of the story. The narrative begins with 2The beds are burning,3 a heavy-metal inspired musical theme characterized by a pervasive rhythmic structure interspersed with virtuosic piano displays. Full orchestral forces add to the intensity of a relentless motor rhythm heard first in the piano. Following 2Ritual I,3 a transitionary theme of soli strings and piano, Nicodemuss theme develops, a musical antithesis to 2The Burning Beds3 theme. It employs a simple melodic loop over a basic four-chord harmonic structure, reminiscent of 8-bit video game themes, and is voiced as piano accompanied by tremolo in the woodwinds and strings. Nicodemuss journey into space begins with a rapid deceleration in tempo. The following slow ternary form includes a funerary dirge bookended by the pieces most lyrical piano writing, expressed by the rise and fall of melodic octaves. The pounding neo-Shostakovian strings of 2Ritual II3 transition directly into the development section, 2Nicodemus seeks the ultimate weapon.3 Nicodemuss theme undergoes significant transformation, assuming the guise of stride piano and North Indian tabla music. These styles are unique to this section, as is their orchestration of high, sustained winds alternating with orchestral hits between low strings and percussion. The pieces recapitulation, 2Meanwhile&,3 begins with a return of the burning beds. Here, 2Gorgomaths Theme,3 identifiable by the instability of its 7/16 motor rhythm is briefly foreshadowed. It appears in its entirety in the coda, 2Boss Battle.3 The resulting work uses original narrative to blend polystylistic elements into a cohesive single movement structure with a dramatic musical arc
Accompanying matter
libretto or text
Cataloging source
UMK
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Miller, Michael Brian
Degree
D.M.A.
Dissertation note
(Conservatory of Music and Dance).
Dissertation year
2016.
Form of composition
unknown
Format of music
full score
Granting institution
University of Missouri-Kansas City,
Literary text for sound recordings
not applicable
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorDate
1962-
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorName
Rudy, Paul
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
Concertos (Piano with chamber orchestra)
Target audience
general
Label
Nicodemus! The beds are burning again : The ascension of Gorgomath, by Michael Brian Miller
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Note
  • "A dissertation in Music Composition."
  • Advisor: Paul Rudy
  • Vita
Antecedent source
not applicable
Carrier category
online resource
Carrier category code
  • cr
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Color
black and white
Content category
  • text
  • notated music
Content type code
  • txt
  • ntm
Content type MARC source
  • rdacontent
  • rdacontent
Contents
Abstract -- Instrumentation -- Program listing -- Nicodemus! The beds are burning again: the ascension of Gorgomath -- Vita
Control code
951539876
Dimensions
unknown
Extent
1 online resource (1 score (ix, 153 pages))
File format
one file format
Form of item
online
Level of compression
mixed
Media category
computer
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • c
Other physical details
music
Quality assurance targets
not applicable
Specific material designation
remote
System control number
(OCoLC)951539876
System details
  • The full text of the dissertation is available as an Adobe Acrobat .pdf file; Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view the file
  • Mode of access: World Wide Web
Label
Nicodemus! The beds are burning again : The ascension of Gorgomath, by Michael Brian Miller
Publication
Copyright
Note
  • "A dissertation in Music Composition."
  • Advisor: Paul Rudy
  • Vita
Antecedent source
not applicable
Carrier category
online resource
Carrier category code
  • cr
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Color
black and white
Content category
  • text
  • notated music
Content type code
  • txt
  • ntm
Content type MARC source
  • rdacontent
  • rdacontent
Contents
Abstract -- Instrumentation -- Program listing -- Nicodemus! The beds are burning again: the ascension of Gorgomath -- Vita
Control code
951539876
Dimensions
unknown
Extent
1 online resource (1 score (ix, 153 pages))
File format
one file format
Form of item
online
Level of compression
mixed
Media category
computer
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • c
Other physical details
music
Quality assurance targets
not applicable
Specific material designation
remote
System control number
(OCoLC)951539876
System details
  • The full text of the dissertation is available as an Adobe Acrobat .pdf file; Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view the file
  • Mode of access: World Wide Web

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