Degree
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
This dissertation examines three bird-themed chamber works for coloratura soprano, flute, and piano, exploring how the human voice and flute intertwine to emulate birdsong and convey emotional depth. The selected repertoire spans from the Baroque to the Romantic era: (1) “Sweet Bird” from L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato (1740) by George Frideric Handel, (2) “Le Rossignol” by Léo Delibes (a 19th-century French mélodie, arranged with flute obbligato by Ary van Leeuwen for soprano Lily Pons in 1933), and (3) “The Russian Nightingale” by Aleksandr Alyabyev (his famed 1825 song “Solovey,” later arranged with flute by Estelle Liebling for Amelita Galli-Curci in 1928). Through musical overview and historical research, the study investigates the purpose and context of each composition that evokes bird imagery. The focus is placed on musical structural setting, text setting, and the interplay between soprano and flute lines. The findings demonstrate that the coloratura soprano is celebrated for its agility and high tessitura which closely resembles the timbre and spontaneity of a songbird, especially when paired with the flute’s delicate warbling tone. Each work reveals how birdsong can symbolize a spectrum of human emotions.
Date
7-16-2025
Recommended Citation
Shin, Jee Won, "SELECTED BIRD-THEMED CHAMBER WORKS FOR COLORATURA SOPRANO, FLUTE, AND PIANO" (2025). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 6833.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/6833
Committee Chair
Moon, Sandra.
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.6833