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Outward Bound: New Applications of George Russell's Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization

Micchelli, Mark (2024) Outward Bound: New Applications of George Russell's Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

George Russell’s Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization (1953, 4th ed. 2001) argues that all music—irrespective of style or genre—is subject to a phenomenon called Tonal Gravity. Although LCCOTO’s musical examples are drawn primarily from jazz and premodern Western classical music, Russell maintains that Tonal Gravity also manifests in “even the most radical twelve-tone (atonal) music.” This dissertation puts Russell’s claim to the test, using Anton Webern’s “Piano Variations,” Op. 27, Mvt. 1 as its primary case study. I begin with an overview of LCCOTO, along with a detailed comparison between LCCOTO and a related analytical methodology: scale network analysis. I then propose an analytical construct I call a Breakup Modal Tonic: a bass note that, while altering the sound of a set class, does not belong to the set class proper. Using a Monte Carlo simulation, I demonstrate that Webern deploys Breakup Modal Tonics at an unusually high rate, which in turn molds “Piano Variations,” Mvt. 1 to fit LCCOTO’s prerequisite analytical framework. The resulting LCCOTO analysis of “Piano Variations,” Mvt. 1 proves largely indistinguishable from LCCOTO analyses of tonal works, validating Russell’s assertion about the presence of Tonal Gravity in atonal music. Following the “Piano Variations,” Mvt. 1 analysis, I outline procedures to apply LCCOTO concepts to the twelve-tone corpus more generally. My conclusion advocates for Russell’s magnum opus to be more taken more seriously as an analytical methodology within academic music theory.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Micchelli, Markmarkmicchelli@gmail.commam825
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairWilliams, Amyamywill@pitt.edu
Committee MemberMitchell Gantt, Nicoleybc5zh@virginia.edu
Committee MemberHeller, Michaelmichaelheller@brandeis.edu
Committee MemberMoe, Ericemoe@pitt.edu
Date: 19 December 2024
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 23 September 2024
Approval Date: 19 December 2024
Submission Date: 28 November 2024
Access Restriction: 2 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 2 years.
Number of Pages: 124
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Music
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: George Russell, tonal gravity, serialism, music theory and creative practice
Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2024 21:11
Last Modified: 19 Dec 2024 21:11
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/47146

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