The treble choral music of Gordon Binkerd: A survey

Gordon Binkerd (b. 1916) composed twenty-two works for treble voices in the years 1956-1987, nearly one-quarter of his total output of choral music. Seventeen works are published by Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., one is under copyright to Associated Music (a division of G. Shirmer, Inc.), and four are, as of this writing, unpublished.The intent of this survey is to discuss, in some detail, a variety of aspects of Binkerd's treble choral composition, including the style, structure, use of poetry, and nature of harmonic and melodic construction. It is not intended as a detailed theoretical analysis, but rather a compilation of information on a large and important body of significant literature for the treble chorus.The works are discussed essentially in chronological order, in four chapters. The works are divided into three periods, based on difficulty levels and changes in style. The pieces of the first period, surveyed in chapter two, are those composed between 1956 and 1971. In chapter three are those pieces written in a consciously less difficult style, composed between 1972 and 1986, while chapter four surveys the extended work for children's chorus and chamber orchestra, composed in 1978. The most recent, unpublished works, which represent a return to some features of his more complex early works, are presented in chapter five. The conclusion is a summary of style characteristics, and a brief discussion of the value of this extensive repertoire.Basic information on each piece is presented in outline form, followed by a discussion of aspects of the work (style, structure, harmony, poetry, imagery, vocal demands). There are Appendices which contain the complete poems used as texts, plus listings of the works in chronological order, by voicing, by accompaniment medium, by use of solo voice and by the poets set.U of I OnlyETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissio