DISCOVERING THREE NEW SOLO WORKS FOR TRUMPET: A GUIDE TO THE HISTORY, ANALYSIS, AND PREPARATION OF ANTHONY PLOG’S SONATA, MARTIN ROKEACH’S RUNNING AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD, AND CHARLES RESKIN’S SONATA FOR TRUMPET AND PIANO

Abstract

This monograph will serve as a guide to musicians for the preparation and performance of three new works by three living composers: Trumpet Sonata (2010) by Anthony Plog, Running at the Top of the World (2012) by Martin Rokeach, and Sonata - for trumpet and piano (2007) by Charles Reskin. Included will be sections or chapters on the history and background of each work, biographical information about each composer, detailed theoretical analysis and exclusive interviews with the composers. Each individual interview will provide insight into the music, including information on personal inspiration and imagery, a strong focus on timbre, tips and pointers on putting everything together with piano, thematic elements, and theoretical insights. The detailed analysis included in this dissertation will examine these three works further for their idiomatic use of instrumentation, phrasing, articulation, muting, tempi, and dynamics. Suggestions are given for each of these topics viz. interpretation and performance. With regard to my theoretical approach in this monograph, I will be using a variety of methods developed by important theorists including Hugo Riemann and Paul Hindemith. The work of the latter will be expanded upon substantially because Charles Reskin pays special homage to Hindemith in the third movement of his sonata. In my three analytical studies, I will argue that each composer chooses specific chords for a particular structural or semiotic reason. I will also draw important connections between various types of motivic material and discuss other techniques that each composer uses to provide cohesion among movements.