Arts - Buffalo State College

34
Arts
both pianist and pedagogue. My interest in the topic began with
my own studies with Lockport pianist Douglas Monroe, a pupil and
disciple of Philipp. I will be conducting a series of interviews with
Mr. Monroe to uncover first-hand information regarding Philipp’s
teaching methodology and style. I hope to supplement the results
of this oral history by presenting (1) audio examples, as Philipp
recorded a limited number of compositions; and (2) photographs
and published musical scores of Philipp. My ultimate goal is to
illuminate music as a vital part of culture, by recognizing the men
and women who have played a part in keeping the great artistic
traditions of the past alive.
Presentation Type and Session: Oral – Humanities III
Kindred: A Theatrical Reflection
Cynthia Delaney, HON 400: All College Honors Colloquium
Faculty Mentors: Professor Cristina Pippa, Theater and Professor
Andrea Guiati, Director, All College Honors Program
In light of the suicides and hate crimes committed by and
against young gay individuals, I have written and staged a play
personalizing the victims and confronting their tormentors in
hopes of changing individuals’ perceptions. “Kindred” is a play
that portrays families of gay men and their feelings toward them,
ranging from complete intolerance to full acceptance. While
touching on themes of suicide and hate crime, it also reflects on
recovery techniques, the media, and institutional interference (or
lack thereof). By reading the true stories of gay men who have
suffered harassment, bullying, and brutality and statements given
by family members, particularly mothers, I’ve put together a cast
of eleven characters to convey the message that members of the
LGBTQ community are normal individuals, with families, hopes,
and dreams. Upon staging and directing this play, conducting a
survey, and holding a talkback to receive audience feedback on the
subject matter, I will discover whether or not the play, written in a
“docudrama” style, achieves the impact that I hope it will or if I need
to alter it. As a glimpse of what the project will be like, I will give
background information on each of the families and show an actor’s
portrayal of at least one of the scenes from the play.
Presentation Type and Session: Oral – Humanities II
The Language of Music and Dance:
A Look At the Haudenosaunee Nations
Ryan Awayda, Joseph Cheslak, Rachel Knauff, Michelle
Notaro, and Kelly McGlynn, MUS 440W: Ethnomusicology
Faculty Mentor: Professor Carolyn Guzski, Music
Haudenosaunee, meaning “People of the Longhouse,”
is the native name for what some may know as the Iroquois.
Haudenosaunee is a historical alliance among several indigenous
groups and is now comprised of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga,
Cayuga, and Seneca nations, together with the newest member,
the Tuscarora. Through this unity, native peoples share rich
traditions, including the incorporation of music and dance as a
means of expression, communication, and celebration. Rituals
such as powwow include song and dance in which every sound and
movement holds significance. We derived knowledge on the many
components inherent to this art from fieldwork observations gained
from members of the Seneca and Tuscarora nations, as well as live
musical performance. The music we will explore is traditionally
performed by singers who utilize chanted vocables with percussion
accompaniment using instruments that are still handcrafted
and personalized to this day. Our goal in this presentation is to
illustrate the use of song and dance in congruency with each other,
demonstrating how music is a central element in Native American
cultural expression.
Presentation Type and Session: Poster III
The Lively and Fabulous Fiddle
Michael Campbell, MUS 440W: Ethnomusicology
Faculty Mentor: Professor Carolyn Guzski Music
My presentation will answer questions such as who, where,
and why the string instrument known as the fiddle was used in
early American music. My research has taken me back to the
nineteenth century, in the years surrounding the Civil War and
America’s Westward Expansion. The South, Midwest, and Northeast
regions of the United States were predominant areas where fiddling
was prevalent. I gathered much of my information through
scholarly books, journal articles, and recordings. Fiddle music
was often associated with dance and was practiced by a variety of
social classes and immigrant groups. My research led me to the
conclusion that although a fiddle and violin are very similar, there
are some important differences in playing techniques. At the end
of my investigation, I discovered why fiddling intrigues people.
Fiddle music influenced and inspired future sub-genres of country
music well into the twentieth century. In my presentation, I aim to
supplement my discussion with a musical transcription and audio
example of a fiddle tune that achieved popularity among both
civilians and military groups of the era.
Presentation Type and Session: Oral – Humanities III
Making Connections: Metal and Ceramics
Michelle Sallander, Ceramics
Faculty Mentor: Professor Robert Wood, Design
I investigated the properties of precious metal clay and how to
adhere this material to ceramics. Precious metal clay is powdered
metal combined with water and an organic binder, which when
fired, burns away and what is left is solid metal. Interestingly, when
water is added PMC behaves and can be formed using traditional
clay forming methods. Once the PMC is fired and is a solid metal
it can be formed with traditional metal forming techniques. I am
interested in the contrast of the two materials, metal and clay, and
how they can work together in sculpture. I experimented with
many different methods to attach the two materials including glaze
adhesion, soldering to glaze, prong setting, and riveting. The most