Style in the Songs of Charles T. Griffes

Authors

Kathryn R. Boyens [Van Fossan], Olivet Nazarene UniversityFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Peer Reviewed

1

Publication Date

5-1979

Scholarship Domain(s)

Scholarship of Discovery

Abstract

Generally remembered as the composer of one or two relatively famous orchestral works, Charles Tomlinson Griffes made a lasting contribution in the field of vocal solo literature. In a brief composing career, basically 1906 to 1918, Griffes completed fifty-nine art songs. Thirty-eight of them have been published to date.

Although Griffes's composing career was short, a wide variety of styles are encountered throughout his art songs. To aid, therefore, in the delineation of Griffes's style, his songs have been grouped into three categories according to the following factors: influences from other sources, possible purposes for their composition, and potential impact on the history of American art song.

Analysis of Griffes's song style begins with discussion of the composer's selection of texts. Four chapters succeeding this discussion are devoted to each of the basic musical elements— melody, harmony, form, and rhythm. Additional chapters deal with piano-voice relations and functions, and with Griffes and the public.

There has been considerable debate concerning Griffes's susceptibility to stylistic influences and his position in the history of American song. The concluding chapter presents several opinions by musical scholars on these questions and pinpoints solutions on the basis of trends developed in the preceding chapters.

Comments

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, Illinois State University

Recommended Citation

Boyens, Kathryn R. [Van Fossan], "Style in the Songs of Charles T. Griffes" (1979). Faculty Scholarship – Library Science. 20.
https://digitalcommons.olivet.edu/lsci_facp/20