Oral Presentations
The Convictions of Composers
Location
Sydnor Performance Hall, Schewel Hall
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Entry Number
73
Start Date
4-10-2019 10:30 AM
End Date
4-10-2019 10:45 AM
College
Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Music
Abstract
Although not all composers held religious beliefs, religious thought influenced their music. With the intent of improving music pedagogy, the purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of religious thought on Thomas Tallis (1505-1585) and RalphVaughan Williams (1872-1958). The particular problems of this study were: 1) to examine the life and religious beliefs of Tallis and Vaughan Williams; 2) to draw correlations between the two composers and their compositions; and 3) to analyze Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis in terms of composition, influences, and its effect on music.
Tallis,a Renaissance composer with unknown religious convictions, composed liturgical music for generations of English royalty and Vaughan Williams, an Agnostic, composed a variety of pieces directly inspired by religious thought and texts. Both Tallis and Vaughan Williams believed in the power of religious thought in music and composed with a variety of religious inspiration. Fantaisia on a theme by Thomas Tallis, Vaughan Williams’ most famous piece, contains a religious tone and shows the reverence that the composer had for religious thought. These two composers serve as an example for how artists and creators ought to treat religious beliefs.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Cynthia Ramsey
Rights Statement
The right to download or print any portion of this material is granted by the copyright owner only for personal or educational use. The author/creator retains all proprietary rights, including copyright ownership. Any editing, other reproduction or other use of this material by any means requires the express written permission of the copyright owner. Except as provided above, or for any other use that is allowed by fair use (Title 17, §107 U.S.C.), you may not reproduce, republish, post, transmit or distribute any material from this web site in any physical or digital form without the permission of the copyright owner of the material.
The Convictions of Composers
Sydnor Performance Hall, Schewel Hall
Although not all composers held religious beliefs, religious thought influenced their music. With the intent of improving music pedagogy, the purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of religious thought on Thomas Tallis (1505-1585) and RalphVaughan Williams (1872-1958). The particular problems of this study were: 1) to examine the life and religious beliefs of Tallis and Vaughan Williams; 2) to draw correlations between the two composers and their compositions; and 3) to analyze Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis in terms of composition, influences, and its effect on music.
Tallis,a Renaissance composer with unknown religious convictions, composed liturgical music for generations of English royalty and Vaughan Williams, an Agnostic, composed a variety of pieces directly inspired by religious thought and texts. Both Tallis and Vaughan Williams believed in the power of religious thought in music and composed with a variety of religious inspiration. Fantaisia on a theme by Thomas Tallis, Vaughan Williams’ most famous piece, contains a religious tone and shows the reverence that the composer had for religious thought. These two composers serve as an example for how artists and creators ought to treat religious beliefs.