Soundtrack for "A Clamour of Rooks" — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

Instructions

Student presentations must have a faculty sponsor.

Abstracts must include a title and a description of the research, scholarship, or creative work. The description should be 150-225 words in length and constructed in a format or style appropriate for the presenter’s discipline.

The following points should be addressed within the selected format or style for the abstract:

A clear statement of the problem or question you pursued, or the scholarly goal or creative theme achieved in your work.
A brief comment about the significance or uniqueness of the work.
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A statement of the conclusions, results, outcomes, or recommendations, or if the work is still in progress, the results you expect to report at the event.

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Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Nora Nickels
Andrew Pustina
James Ripley

Soundtrack for "A Clamour of Rooks"

Name: Kathryn Zutter
Major: Music Theater Performance
Hometown: Hancock MI
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Independent research

Abstract

This year the Carthage Theater Department teamed up with the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin Ireland to create the play "A Clamour of Rooks". I was asked to compose, record, and mix the music for the show. This included pre-show music (35 minutes total) and any music that could be used as a back drop for scenes. I sat in on rehearsals and read the script for inspiration. Phillip Glass (an american contemporary classical composer) was a big inspiration for the music as well with his rushing and lilting style. I also collaborated with Neil Scharnick, the director, to create music for specific scenes in the performance. An example of this is in the final scene, where I was asked to find a way to make the ending not sad, but up lifting since the show itself is so dark. I then took a progression that I had been working on and modulated it from minor to major. Birds where a large part of the play and I used different instrumentation to portray the variety of birds. I also created a musical theme that presented itself many times throughout the show. The piece itself was titled "The Rook" and it was a short piece that they could use during the show. This project was very different then what I am used to composing for because the entire play was an organic process that started months before I was asked to join. I took the challenge and sat in rehearsals and let music come as I was asked for it, making this an exciting but difficult set of compositions. It was a wonderful experience.

Poster file