18th Annual Student Research Conference
Fine Arts
The Power of Seven: Numerology in David Dzubay's Myaku
Nathan T. Wilhoit♦
Dr. Warren Gooch, Faculty Mentor
In his introduction to the musical work Myaku for wind ensemble, composer David Dzubay writes, “This fanfare for wind band takes two main ideas as themes: Pulse (Myaku, in Japanese,) and the number 7 (from the 7 decades the Musashino Academy is celebrating.)” Throughout Myaku these two ideas occur at obvious levels. However, they are also present in deeper, less apparent ways, playing a role in determining the form, motivic content, and harmonic vocabulary of the piece. Dzubay uses numbers and number patterns (such as 70, 7 x 10, and 70 years) as generative elements for these aspects of the composition. An understanding of the role played by these rhythmic and numerological aspects of the piece is important to the conductor and performer. The presentation will involve an analytical discussion of the work.
Keywords: Myaku, David Dzubay, Music Theory, Wind Ensemble, Band
Topic(s):Music
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 48-3
Location: OP 2210
Time: 4:15