Senior Voice Recital and Lecture

As a musician, I conduct a unique form of research. I discipline myself to produce an aesthetically pleasing art-form that was intended to be shared with others through creative interpretation. It is my job to synthesize a composer’s intentions and my own interpretive license in order to share art with my audience. Throughout my career as a music education student at East Carolina University I have developed vocal technique, aural skills, theoretical skills, and musical-historical orientation. In order to display my growth as a well-rounded musician and culmination of my studies, I performed a senior recital and brief lecture discussing the repertoire. Through my discussion of repertoire and extensive program notes I hoped to educate my audience and field as a whole on the significance of the works that I performed. It is easy to become emotionally detached from the art of an era that is far removed from ourselves, especially when language is an additional barrier. The goal of my research was to acclimate myself to the time period from which the pieces I sang originated, the composers’ purpose, and the best possible translation of the work. I used my findings in two ways. First, to aid my preparation for the most authentic performance possible; and second, to share my findings with my field and audience so that they were able to gain a better understanding of the works.