KUKU

KU ScholarWorks

  • myKU
  • Email
  • Enroll & Pay
  • KU Directory
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Theses
    • View Item
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    "Are You Listening?": Vocal Polyphony in the Christian Rock Music of Emery

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Schneider_ku_0099M_16579_DATA_1.pdf (17.52Mb)
    Issue Date
    2019-05-31
    Author
    Schneider, Alexandria
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    107 pages
    Type
    Thesis
    Degree Level
    M.M.
    Discipline
    Music
    Rights
    Copyright held by the author.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    To many, the inception of Christian rock threatened the moral and religious stability of America due to its ties to rock and roll. Preachers and religious leaders spoke out against this combination of the “music of the devil” and gospel-proclaiming lyrics. Though the subgenre was gradually more accepted over time, Christian musicians faced a new challenge when they realized they had isolated themselves from a wider audience by occupying the “gospel” and “worship” sections of the record store. The Christian music industry simultaneously produced more “radio-friendly” music, while also creating their own Christian radio stations, retailers, and record labels as outlets for this music. This led to the emergence of dismissive assumptions that Christian musicians are only in the business for money and that Christian music is cheap imitation of secular music, which is more authentic. All of this points to a prevailing stereotype that in Christian rock, sincerity and compositional complexity are sacrificed for the sake of marketability and mass appeal. This thesis seeks to uncover and analyze Christian rock that has been largely overlooked by those who believe and perpetuate negative stereotypes about the subgenre. A history of Christian rock is presented in a way that existing literature on the subject has yet to accomplish. Chapter 2 includes people and events that challenge prevailing misguided beliefs about the subgenre. This includes the formation of Tooth & Nail Records and bands signed to the label who produced music that is both compositionally complex and sincere in its expression of Christian faith. The band Emery, whose history and genre classification are explored in Chapter 3, is used as a case study. Chapter 4 is an analysis of the diverse patterns of vocal polyphony in Emery’s music. Emery uses two types of this vocal polyphony: alternating and simultaneous. I have identified these same alternating and simultaneous polyphonic vocals in other contemporary rock subgenres such as emo, pop punk, indie rock, and others. This analysis of vocal polyphony in Emery’s music uncovers an area of popular music theory that should be explored further in future research.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/29588
    Collections
    • Music Dissertations and Theses [338]
    • Theses [3825]

    Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


    We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.


    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    Browse

    All of KU ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsThis Collection

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    The University of Kansas
      Contact KU ScholarWorks
    Lawrence, KS | Maps
     
    • Academics
    • Admission
    • Alumni
    • Athletics
    • Campuses
    • Giving
    • Jobs

    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

     Contact KU
    Lawrence, KS | Maps