An analytical approach to Park Stickney's Debussy dances: A recomposition of Claude Debussy's "Danses Sacree et Profane"

Abstract

This thesis studies jazz harpist Park Stickney’s craftsmanship through transcribing and analyzing his performances of Debussy Dances, his recomposition of Claude Debussy’s Danses sacrée et profane. The study consists of two parts. First, the author’s transcription of Stickney’s first performance of Debussy Dances in the 2008 American Harp Society, Inc. (AHS) National Conference is compared with Debussy’s original Danses sacrée et profane. Second, the basic structure of Stickney’s 2008 AHS, Inc. performance and his later recordings of the same piece are compared to investigate the evolving process of his improvisation. The findings of this study reveal that his initial arrangement has opened possibilities for developing his improvisation, and his performances have become more concise and refined through time. The thesis is also accompanied with a final project recital, in which the author employs arrangement techniques derived from analyzing Stickney’s Debussy Dances on other pieces by Debussy, Respighi, and Händel.