COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF MOVEMENT ONE OF JENNIFER HIGDON’S VIOLIN CONCERTO

Abstract

Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962) is quickly becoming one of the most performed and sought after American composers of our time. Her works have been played by all major American orchestras, along with several major European orchestras. As a Pulitzer Prize and multiple Grammy winner, she writes exclusively for commissions and her music is an audience favorite among concertgoers. The primary focus of this research is to investigate the first movement of Jennifer Higdon's Violin Concerto, addressing concerns of linear and contrapuntal development, along with the harmonic language employed in this movement, to prove that these traits are at the heart of Higdon's compositional voice and are what make her works accessible, yet engaging. The thesis will then provide a formal analysis of the complete work, noting key elements of each movement and notable connections between the three movements. A formal analysis of the first movement will then be provided. Following these formal analyses, a discussion of pitch collection, voice-leading, motivic development, linear unfoldings and contrapuntal devices utilized in the first movement will be explored, including parallels between the movement's title, 1726, and the pitch and intervallic content exploited throughout the movement. Next, Higdon's harmonic language will be examined, with discourse regarding the use of triadic figures, polychords, and planing.