Date of Award

Spring 2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Music (MM)

Department

Music Theory and Composition

Committee Chairperson

Adam Silverman, D.M.A.

Committee Member

Jacob Cooper, D.M.A.

Committee Member

Robert Maggio, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Alexander Rozin, Ph.D.

Abstract

Exodus is a piece that highlights different events from the Book of Exodus to the Book of Joshua. The first movement, “The Great Escape,” characterizes the moment where Pharoah decides to listen to Moses, in letting the Israelites go. God uses Moses to perform the miracle of splitting the Red Sea, which secures the safety of the Israelites. This is displayed by the harmonic tension within the brass and the energetic rhythms of the percussion and strings. It all comes to a halt, signified by the timpani, in a reassuring yet anxious manner.

In the second movement, “Wilderness of Despair,” the Israelites are complaining to Moses and are acting ungrateful for their current situation of journeying towards The Promised Land. Their ungratefulness and complaints are illustrated by a theme played by the winds and strings. Due to their cyclical lack of faith and disobedience, they were punished to wander for 40 years. The cyclical behaviors have a fragmented theme that is present throughout the movement. God gives Moses a successor named Joshua who will bring the Israelites into The Promised Land. This bittersweet moment is presented by a doubling of the English Horn and French Horn.

The final movement, “Joshua’s Emergence,” depicts the triumphant entry into The Promised Land, led by Joshua. This is characterized by a blend of a Copland-like brass section coupled with a Sousa-like march. As the movement ends, a bittersweet waltz shines through, embodying both uncertainty and hope.

Download

Included in

Composition Commons

Share

COinS