University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship RepositoryNot a member yet
123813 research outputs found
Sort by
Immersive Acousmatic Music of Robert Normandeau Spatialization of Anadliad, Melancholia, and Tunnel azur
No full textThis project discusses three works by the Montréal-based acousmatic composer Robert Normandeau (b. 1955), utilizing different approaches to analyze his immersive
audio works Anadliad, Melancholia, and Tunnel azur. This thesis provides an introduction to acousmatic music, spatialization within the medium, a specific type of spatialization Normandeau uses in his works, and methodologies for analyzing electroacoustic music.
Analysis of Anadliad will primarily focus on Normandeau’s method of diffusing sound called timbre spatialization. The primary focus of Melancholia will be analyzing energy
models of the multichannel sound objects, interpreting them as metaphors within the work. By examining the behavior of these energy models, we can determine their spatialization as well as their physical and metaphorical immersion. As Tunnel Azur is considered a piece
of "cinema for the ear," a subgenre of acousmatic music, the analysis follows Normandeau’s approaches, drawing from cinematic language to construct the work. In the
conclusion, I propose additional areas of interest for developing spatialization techniques. Acousmatic music is a media art influenced by other mediums, particularly within the "cinema for the ear" genre. As technology advances, we can draw more parallels to cinema and refine the vocabulary and syntax used in the description and analysis of “cinema for the ear” acousmatic music, enhancing both the physical and metaphorical immersion.
In addition, I applied cinematic techniques and timbre spatialization to my recent immersive compositions Whale Song Stranding and Textures Arc The Points. However,
Whale Song Stranding is more related to cinema for the ear due to the recognizability of sound sources and use of layered cinematic techniques to orchestrate spatialization.
Textures Arc The Points employs micromontages, but it is not considered as a work for cinema for the ear, as I do not draw from the cinematic language and the sound sources are strictly violin sounds that are abstract and not anecdotal. This work is more inspired by Wassily Kandinsky’s paintings, by composing vibrant arcs, points, and lines like those found in many of his works. Textures Arc The Points is my first attempt at borrowing
Kandinsky’s concepts found in his book Point and Line to Plane, where perhaps Textures Arc The Points can fall under another sub-genre of acousmatic music labeled as “painting for the ears.
The Second Bossa Nova Generation
No full textThis scholarly essay explores how the Second Bossa Nova Generation was born out of the first generation’s influence as well as Brazil’s national political scenario, which lead to a change in the focus of the music’s lyrics. Due to the
importance of understanding how the Second Bossa Nova Generation achieved its status, this paper presents and analyzes the Brazilian Popular Music path throughout
the 20th century. The essay starts from the birth of Popular Music in the Americas through syncopation at the beginning of the 20th century to the parallelism with the
music of the United States, focusing on some of its main figures and genres. By thoroughly analyzing some of the Second Bossa Nova Generation music’s features,
this research aims to demonstrate how this generation created music that reflected Brazilian Popular Music’s evolution that both incorporated and transcended its earlier influences, reconciling the past and pointing to the future
RETURN TO ROCK STARDOM THE PERFORMERS, COMPOSERS, LUTHIERS AND EDUCATORS RE-ESTABLISHING BOWED STRINGS AS PREMIER PERFORMANCE VEHICLES VOLUME 1: ELECTRIC EDITION
No full textThe capabilities of electric strings have evolved dramatically in the last few decades, and the number of devotees of these instruments has increased proportionally; yet there exists no “who’s who” of the innovators driving this evolution. There are fantastic artists working on stages and in studios and workshops – in every musical genre – yet most labor in relative obscurity. This thesis shows the members of the modern bowed strings community to be widespread, accomplished, and imminently capable musicians.
The bulk of this work is in two sections, focusing on established and emerging artists, respectively. Established performers and luthiers were personally interviewed,
and up-and-comers responded to a provided questionnaire. The scope (with a few notable exceptions) was limited to artists already known to the author, well-known (at least within the community) for their work on electrics and based in North America. The results were formatted and lightly edited where necessary, and all interview subjects were given a say in the final form. All of the artist chapters are printed with the full blessing and approval of the subjects. The appendices consolidate and detail the knowledge and experience the author has acquired over more than 25 years of working with electric violins, amplification, and processing.
The purpose of this study it to reveal just how many highly accomplished artists are extant, and to assemble a pool of material as a starting point for an online, all-things-electric-strings archive to be hosted and curated by the Electric Strings Program at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This work additionally offers a window onto a burgeoning sea-change in music performance, technology,
composition, and education
Water Quality Evaluation of Lake Springfield and the Emiquon Preserve using Macroinvertebrates
No full textThe purpose of this study was to use macroinvertebrates to evaluate the water quality of
Lake Springfield versus that of the Emiquon Preserve. Macroinvertebrates are used to evaluate
water quality, diversity, richness and overall health of freshwater ecosystems (Herman et al.
2015). Lake Springfield and the Emiquon Preserve were chosen as study sites as they are
geographically similar water bodies but are assumed to be antithesis of each other. Lake
Springfield is composed of 3,965 acres and taken care of by City Water, Light and Power
(CWLP). Pollution is a major issue for Lake Springfield as it comes from many sources of
pollution originators (Lake Springfield 2017). The Emiquon Preserve is composed of 2,723-ha
with 90% of it being a floodplain west of the Illinois River. Since 2007 The Nature Conservancy
has worked to ecologically restore the preserve (Lemke et al. 2017). This study was conducted at
three sites, two on Lake Springfield and one at the Emiquon Preserve. Samples were collected
using two different methodologies. The first involved collecting rocks at 1 meter intervals along
a 20 meter transect parallel to shore (Wilson et al. 2020). Macroinvertebrates were also collected
with 1 meter square d-net sweeps every 5 meters (total 5 sweeps) along the same transect
(McIntosh et al. 2019). Each macroinvertebrate was identified to the lowest taxonomic level
possible (class, family, genus, or species). Using the pollution tolerances based on the
identifications of the specimens the water quality was evaluated using the Hilsenhoff Biotic
Index and the Macroinvertebrate Index. The Shannon-Wiener Diversity and Simpson Diversity
Indexes were also used. It was found that overall, the Maple Grove site at Lake Springfield
displayed similar scores to the Emiquon Preserve site. The other Lake Springfield site had mixed
results, primarily marked by very low numbers in the sweeps. This suggests that Lake
Springfield may have ranges in water quality based on geography and use. This pilot study
indicates the need for a more in-depth analysis of Lake Springfield
Understanding Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions in Illinois
No full textWildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs), particularly those involving deer, pose significant risks to public safety, economic stability, and biodiversity. This review and analysis highlight key contributing factors, including habitat fragmentation, road design, vehicle speed, and environmental conditions, which collectively increase the likelihood of WVCs. This review identifies specific locations in Illinois where WVCs are most common and the landscape features that are attributed to them. The review also identifies a range of mitigation strategies that have been implemented with varying degrees of success. Engineering solutions, such as wildlife fencing, overpasses, and underpasses, have proven effective in reducing collisions by guiding animal movement. Additionally, driver-focused interventions, including improved signage, road lighting, and public awareness campaigns, can play a crucial role in reducing WVC risks. Emerging technologies, such as real-time vehicle-based detection systems and road-integrated warning mechanisms, offer promising advancements in collision prevention. To further reduce WVCs, this review recommends integrating wildlife conservation efforts into transportation planning, ensuring that mitigation strategies are proactively incorporated into infrastructure development. Public education and driver awareness programs could be expanded, particularly in high-risk areas, to encourage safer driving behaviors. Finally, this review recommends developing a standardized approach for collecting data on WVCs for non-deer species. Roadways may pose a significant threat to the population health of many species of conservation concern, yet little information exists on the locations and factors influencing their occurrence. By adopting a proactive, interdisciplinary approach, stakeholders can enhance both human safety and wildlife conservation while addressing the increasing challenges posed by WVCsIDOT-R27-SP7
The Distribution of Population in the American Colonies in the Revolutionary Period
No full textBoth the numbers of the population of the American colonies in 1775 and the distribution of that population have long been the object of speculation. It is the purpose of this study to draw some conclusions as to the number of people in each colony, to show by means of maps the location of that population, and to explain its concentration and distribution. Like other ambitions, this one has been modified by conditions and by circumstances.The growth of population in the American colonies interested colonial governments mainly in order that they might know how heavy the tax levy need be to meet the necessary expenses of the year, and how many soldiers they could count upon in case of Indian attack. The most determined efforts to discover the number of people in the colonies came from the Lords of Trade, and two of the stock questions sent out to the governors were, "How many people are there in the colony?" "Has the population declined or increased in the last ten years ?" Conscientious governors felt the need of census returns in order to answer these question accurately; governors less careful about the accuracy of their replies sent estimates based upon the number of taxables
AEMS News and Reviews: Spring 2006 (Vol. 9, No. 1)
No full textThe Spring 2006 AEMS News and Reviews (Vol. 9, No. 1) features films exploring global connections and Asian social issues [Abstract from previous turn]. "Mardi Gras: Made in China" contrasts U.S. consumerism with Chinese factory labor, critiquing globalization and inequality. "Thirty Years of Sisterhood" documents Japan's 1970s women's liberation movement through interviews with activists. "Bride & Prejudice" and "I Have Found It (Kandukondain Kandukondain)" are cross-cultural Indian adaptations of Jane Austen novels. "Spirits of the State" examines Japan's controversial Yasukuni Shrine and its role in national memory and militarism. Finally, "Don’t Fence Me In" portrays Karen refugees from Burma in Thai camps, highlighting the experiences of Karen freedom fighter Major Mary Ohn.Center for East Asian and Pacific Studie
AEMS News and Reviews: Winter 2013 (Issue: #47)
No full textThe 2013 winter issue of the AEMS Newsletter includes four reviews that should be of interest to a variety of audiences. "Families of the Philippines," reviewed by Roger Bresnahan, will likely be most relevant to educators working with younger learners. Per Kværne offers a review of "Bon: Mustang to Menri," a film that draws attention to the relatively little-known Bon religion of Tibet, which has long existed in the shadow of the better-known Tibetan Buddhism of the Geluk school. "Woman Rebel," reviewed by Tim Lubin, should be of particular interest to those teaching about women's issues and women in Asia. Last but certainly not least, Ryoko Sakurada highlights the value of the film work of an ethnologist in 1980s China. Given the rapid changes China has undergone in the past three decades, this film may serve as a valuable record of local life and culture that is increasingly difficult to find today.Center for East Asian and Pacific Studie
When the Harbors Sat Empty: National Attitudes, Maritime Policy, and Imperial Belonging in the Russian Baltic in the Aftermath of 1905
No full textIn the years after the Russo-Japanese War and the Revolution of 1905, Russian officials in the Baltic embarked on a project to preserve Russian influence and authority in the Baltic Sea. As part of this, they engaged in an extensive renegotiation of ideas of loyalty and belonging, both among members of the ruling class, and between rulers and subjects in the Baltic Provinces. Officials sought to rebuild the shattered Baltic Fleet and protect it from both internal and external threats. Imperial officials became more paranoid about some of those they had long trusted, while bringing in new groups as trusted loyal subjects of the empire. Previous studies of nationality, policy, and Russification in the Western Frontier have focused on the terrestrial Russian empire, but this project seeks to recognize the Russian Empire’s character as a maritime state, participating in a broader “Baltic World.
The impact of library-hosted art exhibits on student perceptions of the academic library
Get PDFThis report and corresponding presentation describe the results from one season of an ongoing impact study on student-submitted art exhibits hosted by the academic library of a public state university in the United States. More specifically, this institutionally approved study explores how outreach efforts of this type attract new library visitors and/or alter student perceptions of the other library-provided resources and services. As this university is a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and two-thirds of the enrolled students identify as first in family to attend college, the art exhibits are designed to introduce historically underrepresented student populations to the library space while welcoming and promoting the exploration of personal identity. A web-based survey was used to gather anonymous visitor feedback, and 2024 survey data is summarized in this report. These quantitative results provide actionable insights for library administrators and contribute to discussions on the integration of diverse representation and equitable access in library practices