Identifier

etd-04102016-232827

Degree

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

Department

Music

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Charles Ruggiero has spent much of his career composing saxophone music that blends classical and jazz idioms. His most recent work for Tenor Saxophone and Piano, Tenor Attitudes, reflects his most overtly jazz influenced piece to date. This piece is meant to recreate the styles of seven of history's most celebrated jazz tenor saxophonists: Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, John Coltrane, Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, and Sonny Rollins. This document discusses the lives and careers of each of these musicians. It analyzes their personal histories, preferred genres, and styles in an attempt to aid performers in accurately and sincerely performing this piece of music. It also suggests various recordings of the seven performers that would be the most beneficial for study in the preparation of this piece. Most importantly, it discusses the idiomatic qualities in these musician's style, and how to incorporate them into a performance of Tenor Attitudes. In addition, an interview with composer Charles Ruggiero is included which offers additional insight into his thoughts on this piece of music, as well as on the saxophone in general.

Date

2016

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Campbell, Griffin

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.1

Included in

Music Commons

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