Semester of Graduation
Spring 2025
Degree
Master of Music (MM)
Department
Music
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
“When will I find my voice?” It is question that is sure to cross the mind of any young artist. While I personally believe there is no definite moment or piece that can mark the emergence of a personal voice, I do believe in breakthrough moments. We may listen to a new genre, come across a new ideology, hit on something by chance, visit a new country, or face some lifechanging event. Whatever the cause, the result is that a new facet of our identity has been illuminated and from this point onwards, it will affect our creation.
My latest breakthrough moment was my rediscovery of African music. My mother is from Malawi and I have visited there twice. Africa has always had a special place in my heart, but the full value of its music only hit me a few years back. Not only did it resonate with me strongly, it also helped me solve a dilemma that had been holding me back.
From the time I began listening to classical music, I had a deep love for composers of the Classical Era. I liked the clarity of Classical forms, the simplicity of Classical harmony, and the good-natured temperament of the music. Yet, I was determined to separate myself somehow from what had come before. African music gave me the way out. The music was similar in character and spirit to that of Classical composers, but added to it a rhythmic verve that was exactly what I needed to express myself.
After my breakthrough with African Music, a string of Afro-Classical works ensued: Ambassel, 2022, The Malawian Symphony 2022, Solo for Solomon 2023, 3 Canons 2023, 3 Afro-Baroque Dances 2023, and Marimba Sonata in C, 2025. But the seminal work from my exploration of Afro-Classicism is my Theme and Variations on an African Chant for string quartet. Here, Classical and African influences coexist in perfect harmony creating a work distinct from anything of the past or the present.
Date
4-2-2025
Recommended Citation
Schafer, Kenneth, "Theme and Variations on an African Chant" (2025). LSU Master's Theses. 6131.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/6131
Committee Chair
Gibson, Mara