Date of Award

5-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Departmental Honors

Department

Music

Abstract

The Art of the Duo and the Value of Collaboration explores the duo as a laboratory for understanding the collaborative process between musicians and non musicians focusing on three central points. First, this project is a means to showcase and broaden my skills as a composer. Second, this project demonstrates my understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of common and uncommon instrumental pairings. Third, this project explores interdisciplinary collaboration. This project resulted in a public lecture recital featuring six duets I composed for various instruments: violin, bass, percussion, saxophone, voice, and piano.

I studied works by Debussy, Bartók, and Paganini, which resulted in innovative contemporary techniques being implemented in my duets for violin, saxophone, and percussion. I examined constraints in duet writing due to limited range, timbre, or roles and how to overcome these.

Choreographer Liz Lerman’s Critique is Creative and Hiking the Horizontal informed collaborative feedback methods that are built on trust, respect, and constructive critique. I also examined the collaborative relationship between poet Patrick Milan and composer Emerson Eads in the book The Unquiet Country. The project was expanded as I fostered interdisciplinary collaborations with scientists, artists, dancers, and a poet. These collaborations reflected relationships I studied in the initial phases of the project, such as Stravinsky and Diaghilev or Copland and Graham. This research and applied collaboration reinforces the project outcome that collaboration can fuel creative work and increase community reach.

Through this experience of applying research through creative works, I developed a strong portfolio of compositions as well as soft skills like communication and teamwork. critical thinking, time management, and creativity. Additionally, it serves as a solid foundation for my continuing education and research, career, and life of meaningful collaboration and composition.

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Faculty Mentor

Kevin Olson

Departmental Honors Advisor

Sara Bakker

Capstone Committee Member

Stephen Mitton