An analysis of the French-American compositions of Joseph Tompkins with an overview of French rudimental drumming traditions

Robles, Akira

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/107221 Copy

Description

Title

An analysis of the French-American compositions of Joseph Tompkins with an overview of French rudimental drumming traditions

Author(s)

Robles, Akira

Issue Date

2020

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Moersch, William

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Moersch, William

Committee Member(s)

• Bashford, Christina
• Kruse, Adam
• Tipei, Sever

Department of Study

School of Music

Discipline

Music

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

A.Mus.D. (doctoral)

Keyword(s)

• snare drum
• rudimental
• Joseph Tompkins
• Guy Lefèvre
• French
• rudiments
• military drumming
• analysis

Language

en

Abstract

This document aims to analyze and guide the performance of the French-American snare drum works of Joseph Tompkins. To do so, it examines three important drum manuals written by French percussionists/composers in order to capture several key qualities of the French rudimental drumming style: Robert Tourte’s Méthode de Tambour (1946), Robert Goute’s Le Tambour D’Ordonnance Vol. 1 and 2 (1981–1982), and Guy Lefèvre’s Le Tambour Technique Superieure (1987). Additionally, select snare drum works from Guy Lefèvre’s Étude Progressive de la Technique Caisse Claire series (1986-87) are also discussed, as these pieces provided significant inspiration for Tompkins as he composed his French-American works. Chapter 1 begins with a biography of Joseph Tompkins, as well as some background information on the study. Chapter 2 presents a guide to the standard rudiments in the French drumming style and explains how the manuals suggest developing them. Chapter 3 shows the French rudiments in traditional French military marches as well as the works of Guy Lefèvre. And finally, Chapter 4 provides performance analyses of five key French- American works that Tompkins has composed in recent years: Nine French-American Rudimental Solos Vol. 1 (2007), Nine French-American Rudimental Solos Vol. 2 (2011), Walkin’ Down Coolidge (2008), March (2009), and To Varese (2013).

Type of Resource

• text
• still image

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/107221

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2020 Akira Robles

Owning Collections