TSMT 2025 Program

Texas Society for Music Theory
47th Annual Conference
February 28 - March 1, 2025
Baylor University
Waco, Texas

Conference Program

Except where noted, all events will take place in the Baylor University Baylor University Cashion Academic Center (fifth floor), at Central Standard Time.

To watch live online, please click on the session title to access the Zoom link for that session.

KEY:

Friday, February 28 - Morning Sessions

REGISTRATION, COFFEE: (8:00 - 8:30 Room: Cashion 506 Banquet Hall )

WELCOME: (8:30 Room: Cashion 506 Banquet Hall

Amy Fleming, Local Arrangements Chair

Kevin Sanders, Dean of the Baylor University School of Music

SESSION I: (9:00 - 10:45 Room: Cashion 501)
Bridges, Flights, and Roads: Navigating Emotion and Motion in Music and Film

Session Chair: Timothy Koozin, University of Houston

"The Bridge of Our Lives: The Anthem Bridge as the Emotional Climax in Modern Pop"
Hannah Laws, University of Arkansas
"Taking Flight with E.T.: Analyzing Contrast and Amplified Emotional Responses in Film Cues"
Benjamin Graf, University of North Texas
"Refuge of the Roads: Musical Restlessness in Joni Mitchell's Hejira"
Ellen Shaw, Michigan State University

SESSION II: (9:00 - 10:45 Room: Cashion 502)
Rules, Dualities, and Dimensions: Exploring Harmony Across Time and Space

Session Chair: Edward Taylor, Baylor University

"Partimento and Harmony in Spain: Félix Máximo López's Reglas Generales"
Bryan Espinosa, Sam Houston State University
"Dual-Polar Harmonic Progressions: Varvara Dernova's Analytical Approach to Scriabin"
Lance Russell, Dallas College
"Space, Time, and Harmony in Max Reger's Morgen, op. 66/10"
David Hier, Oklahoma State University

BREAK: (10:45 - 11:00 )

SESSION III: (11:00 - 12:30 Room: Cashion 506 Banquet Hall)
Undergraduate Lightning Talks

Session Chair: Devin Guerrero, Texas Tech University

"The Evolution of Tango"
Nate Gandara, Sam Houston State University
"An Examination of the Perception of Music and its Effect on Food Preference"
Sarah Hamm, University of Texas at San Antonio
"Role of Timbral Transformation in the Electroacoustic Works of Kaija Saariaho"
Emma Lippert, Wichita State University
"Louis Couperin's Unmeasured Preludes for Harpsichord: Understanding Historical Context, Harmonic Analysis, and Individual Interpretation"
Talitha Murphy, University of North Texas

SESSION IV: (11:00 - 12:30 Room: Cashion 502)
Rethinking Sonata and Song

Session Chair: Bryan Espinoza, Sam Houston State University

"Hindemith and the Type 2 Sonata: A Close Reading of the Flute Sonata's Second Movement"
Austin Brake, University of Houston
"The Prinner as Transition(?) in Sonata-form Arias by Haydn and Mozart"
Graham Hunt, University of Texas at Arlington
"Flexing the Spine: Schubert's Der Doppelgänger, the Unorthodox Urlinie, and Poetic Parallelism"
Austin Wilson, Michigan State University

LUNCHEON: (12:30 - 2:00 East Village Dining Hall )

Friday, February 28 - Afternoon Sessions

Pedagogy Session (2:00 - 3:00 Room: Cashion 506 Banquet Hall)
Developing Hispanic and Latin American Music Resources for the Music Theory Classroom

Session Chair: Benjamin Graf, University of North Texas

Presenters:

BREAK: (3:00 - 3:15)

SESSION V: (3:15 - 4:45 Room: Cashion 501)
Forms in Flux: Structure and Innovation in Metal and Hip-Hop

Session Chair: David Forrest, Texas Tech University

"Shaping the Formless: Phrase Structures in Metal Music with Unpitched Vocals"
Jose Garza, Texas State University
"Tha Crossroads: Defining Melodic Rap"
Devin Guerrero, Texas Tech University
"The Metric Fakeout in Underground Hip-Hop"
Brian Sanders, University of North Texas

SESSION VI: (3:15 - 4:45 Room: Cashion 502)
Deception and Design: Unpacking Musical Narratives and Pedagogies

Session Chair: Andrew Vagts, Baylor University

"Schubert's Death and the Maiden String Quartet: Delaying Tactics and Deceptive Motions"
Nathan Lowe, University of North Texas
"Deceptive Simplicity in Zara Levina's Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano"
Jacy Pedersen, Wichita State University
"The Commodification of the Music Theory and Aural Skills Core Curriculum"
Dave Easley, Oklahoma City University

BREAK: (4:45 - 5:00)

Keynote Address: (5:00 - 6:00 Room: Cashion 506 Banquet Hall)

Chair: Jennifer Beavers, University of Texas at San Antonio

Finding Your Purpose (and Place) in the Academic World of Music Theory
Jennifer Snodgrass, Lipscomb University

Saturday, March 1

Coffee: (8:00 Room: Cashion 506 Banquet Hall)

SESSION VII: (8:30 - 10:00 Room: Cashion 501)
Voices Unveiled: Identity, Persona, and Expression in Music

Session Chair: Eric Lai, Baylor University

"Race, Bias, and Musical Identity in Burleigh's Ethiopia Saluting the Colors"
Jess Forgione, Michigan State University
Let the Vagina Have a Monologue: Exploring Persona in Janelle Monáe's Music"
Sarah Tobin, Michigan State University
"Understanding Non-Lexical Vocables in Music"
Ruixue Hu, Eastman School of Music

SPECIAL SESSION (8:30 - 10:15 Room: Cashion 502)
Puccinian Endings, One Hundred Years On: Rotation, Coalescence, and Climax in 'Suor Angelica', 'Gianni Schicchi', and 'Turandot'

Session Chair: Jonathan Guez, University of Houston

Arman Schwartz, University of Notre Dame, Respondent

"Reconsidering Suor Angelica"
Andrew Davis, University of Houston
"Focalizing Gianni Schicchi"
Jonathan Guez, University of Houston
"Climax Structure in Large-Scale: On the Ending of Puccini's Turandot, Act 1"
Ji Yeon Lee, University of Houston

POSTER SESSION: (10:15 - 11:15 Room: Cashion 506 Banquet Hall)

Session Chair: Amy Fleming, Baylor Univeristy

"Echoes of Fear: A Comparative analysis of the Halloween Soundtracks, 1978 & 2018"
Sophie Andersen and Aidan Ramos, University of Texas at San Antonio
"Timed Repetitive Quizzes in Fundamental Music Theory Curriculum"
Jacob Bowman, Baylor University
"A Model for Teaching Timbre in Music Theory Class"
David Forrest, Texas Tech University
"Association and Teleology in Anže Rozman's Phoenix"
Samantha Inman, Stephen F. Austin State University
"Performing Funk: A Study of Texture, Counterpoint, and Agency"
Timothy Koozin, University of Houston
"Groove on the Field: Microtiming 'Feels' and Rhythmic Synchronization in Marching Percussion"
Zach Lookenbill, University of Arkansas
"A Gamified Approach to Reviewing Music Theory Fundamental Concepts"
Emma Madsen, Baylor University
"Rain, Cathedrals, and Preludes: Compositional Allusions in the Piano Music of Mel Bonis"
Jennifer Shafer England, Montana State University
"Musicianship Through Mariachi: Introducing Latin-American Music in Theory Curriculum"
Garrett Thompson, Baylor University

BREAK: (11:15 - 11:30)

TSMT Business Meeting: (11:30 Room: Cashion 506 Banquet Hall)

Agenda

TSMT Executive Board

Jennifer Beavers (University of Texas at San Antonio), President
David Forrest (Texas Tech University), Immediate Past President
Kevin Clifton (Sam Houston State University), Secretary
Andrew Davis (University of Houston), Treasurer Damian Blättler (Rice University)
Justin Lavacek (University of North Texas)
Rachel Mann (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley)
Andrew Vagts (Baylor University)

TSMT 2025 Program Committee

Ann Fronckowiak (Texas A&M University, Kingsville)
Devin Guerrero (Texas Tech University, winner of 2024 Colvin Award)
Amy Hatch (University of Texas at Arlington)
David Heetderks (University of North Texas)
Lucy Liu (Texas Tech University)

[TSMT Web Site]

Texas Society for Music Theory 47th Annual Conference February 28 - March 1, 2025 Baylor University Waco, Texas