Resurrecting Dies Irae: Practical Applications for High School Band
Location
Access Type
Open Access
Entry Number
23
Start Date
4-7-2021 11:00 AM
End Date
4-7-2021 11:15 AM
Department
Music
Abstract
Although Dies Irae, originally composed for use in the Roman Catholic Church, commonly symbolized death in pop culture, variations of the sequence can be used to create a Halloween program for high school symphonic bands. With the intent of improving music pedagogy, the purpose of this research was to examine the historical context of Dies Irae and identify uses in the high school band classroom. The particular problems of this study were to (1) define the term sequence in classical music; (2) to identify the integration of Dies Irae in pop culture; and (3) develop a Halloween themed concert program for high school band.
Dies Irae, the sequence in the Requiem Mass, may be one of the most iconic pieces to survive the late medieval time period. Hollywood producers use the theme to symbolize death as evidenced in films such as The Shining, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. There are numerous selections available for purchase that can be utilized to create Halloween concerts based on the Dies Irae concept. Between the common liturgical use, and the more recent pop culture implementations, Dies Irae adds a traditional twist on the idea of a Halloween concert.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Cynthia B. Ramsey
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Resurrecting Dies Irae: Practical Applications for High School Band
Although Dies Irae, originally composed for use in the Roman Catholic Church, commonly symbolized death in pop culture, variations of the sequence can be used to create a Halloween program for high school symphonic bands. With the intent of improving music pedagogy, the purpose of this research was to examine the historical context of Dies Irae and identify uses in the high school band classroom. The particular problems of this study were to (1) define the term sequence in classical music; (2) to identify the integration of Dies Irae in pop culture; and (3) develop a Halloween themed concert program for high school band.
Dies Irae, the sequence in the Requiem Mass, may be one of the most iconic pieces to survive the late medieval time period. Hollywood producers use the theme to symbolize death as evidenced in films such as The Shining, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, and The Nightmare Before Christmas. There are numerous selections available for purchase that can be utilized to create Halloween concerts based on the Dies Irae concept. Between the common liturgical use, and the more recent pop culture implementations, Dies Irae adds a traditional twist on the idea of a Halloween concert.