Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Thesis - ECU Access Only
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Bachelor of Music (Honours)
School
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
First Supervisor
Dr Helen Rusak
Second Supervisor
Associate Professor Jonathan Paget
Abstract
This dissertation analyses solo classical guitar works by four contemporary Australian women composers, considering the context that informed the works’ creation and the composer’s respective aesthetic. The works explored are Portraits of Four Australian Women by Mary Doumany, Tangible by Kate Moore, Four Leunig Pieces by Maria Grenfell, and Divulsion by Nicole Murphy. There has been some research into classical guitar works composed by non-guitarist Australian men, such as Peter Sculthorpe and Nigel Westlake, but little academic writing has analysed the guitar works of Australian women. While attempts have been made at addressing the lack of awareness of women’s works, systemic problems and bias still bar women from equal representation and involvement at all levels. This thesis has employed various tools of musical analysis, including set class theory, motivic and thematic analysis, and harmonic analysis. By highlighting a small selection of classical guitar works by Australian women, it is hoped that there will be greater momentum for further interest in these works, in academia and on the concert stage.
Recommended Citation
Bradstreet, A. L. (2020). Glass ceilings and nylon strings: Reflections on Australian women’s contribution to classical guitar repertoire. Edith Cowan University. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/1556