Flight 208

Author

Friedolin Stockmeier

Date of Award

2015

First Advisor

Laurence Wallach

Second Advisor

Karen Beaumont

Third Advisor

John Myers

Abstract

Flight 208 is a thirty minute opera that I wrote and produced. It is about the flight of an airplane and the exploration of social tensions and power dynamics that occur when the plane encounters a storm and has a crash landing. The audience is involved as participating passengers who board ‘the plane’ and even sing at the end to create an impactful immersive experience. Part of what informed my writing was an interest in cultural (musical) rituals, music as narrative, and subversive drama. The piece is scored for two violins, cello, flute, clarinet, bassoon, trombone, baritone saxophone, three parts for mixed percussion, tenor, and two alto singers. It was performed by Contemporaneous a NY-based ensemble, five actors, and three student singers. The written thesis covers my intentions and inspirations in making the piece, the overall planning and process, a musical analysis of techniques and material used, and finally a self-evaluation. Included is a video recording of the performance on DVD.

Comments

Ask at the Alumni Library circulation desk for the companion piece that accompanies this thesis.

Recommended Citation

Stockmeier, Friedolin, "Flight 208" (2015). Senior Theses. 955.
https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/sr-theses/955