Patchett, Gianna (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisory: Bayless, Anne (Caine College of the Arts, Music Department)
The definition for the word “inspiration” is ever changing and has various meanings depending on the individual, culture, and time period. My goal is to compare the ideas about inspiration from the 19th century and the modern day. As an example of this I will look at Johannes Brahms’s Cello Sonata No. 1 in E Minor and, using what I have learned about inspiration, search for possible sources of inspiration for that particular composition. I will also discuss the way in which this research influenced my own interpretation and performance of the work.