邁克爾・約翰・特羅塔《狂喜之息》音樂分析與詮釋

Abstract

《狂喜之息》(For a Breath of Ecstasy) 是美國當代作曲家暨合唱指揮家邁克爾・約翰・特羅塔 (Michael John Trotta, b. 1978) 受美國西北州立大學室內合唱團委託創作，於2018年出版之作品，以紀念二十世紀初期美國抒情女詩人莎拉・蒂斯黛爾 (Sara Teasdale, 1884-1933) 於1918年獲得普立茲詩歌獎 (Pulitzer Prize for Poetry) 之一百週年。特羅塔的創作題材涵蓋宗教與世俗領域，從大型合唱交響曲到室內合唱曲，均顯示出他對豐富和聲色彩及精緻聲部編寫的掌握，充分發揮人聲的表現力，並且以其將詩歌轉化為音樂的能力而聞名。他對文學有著深刻的理解，並以細膩的音樂詮釋展現詩歌的情感與意境。在創作中，他擅於融合傳統與現代音樂元素，展現出兼具詩意與創新性的風格。本合唱作品編制為混聲四部合唱、雙簧管與弦樂四重奏，由七個樂章組成，結構呈對稱性的音樂迴文 (musical palindrome) 形式。第一樂章〈財富於我已足夠〉與第七樂章〈讓我愛〉均為D大調，並運用了相同的音樂元素，利用雙簧管旋律與拱形主題動機，搭配合唱厚實的音色，創造了首尾呼應的效果。第二樂章〈寧靜流淌我心〉與第六樂章〈我為你〉為關係調，共用部分旋律素材，伴奏形式上呈現平靜與動感的對比，象徵愛的多樣性。第三樂章〈給予我靈魂的人〉與第五樂章〈傾注所有於美好喜悅〉亦為關係調，以同聲合唱方式呈現愛情中的付出與獲得。第四樂章〈對於你 我靜立〉的音樂素材未在其他樂章中重複，其旋律以緩慢速度描繪歌詞意境，成為整體作品情感的轉折點。本論文共四章。第一章「緒論」，包含研究動機、內容及方法；第二章「作品背景探究」，介紹詩人蒂斯黛爾與作曲家特羅塔的生平背景、以及歌詞內容分析；第三章為「音樂內容分析與音樂詮釋建議」，根據樂章進行分章探討；第四章為本論文之「結論」。For a Breath of Ecstasy is a choral work composed by American contemporary composer and choral conductor Michael John Trotta (b. 1978). Commissioned by the Northwestern State University Chamber Choir, the piece was published in 2018 to commemorate the centennial anniversary of American lyric poet Sara Teasdale (1884–1933) receiving the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1918. Trotta’s compositions encompass both sacred and secular themes, ranging from large-scale choral symphonies to chamber choral works. His mastery of harmonic color and intricate vocal writing fully explores the expressive potential of the human voice. Renowned for his ability to transform poetry into music, Trotta demonstrates a profound literary sensibility, rendering poetic emotions and imagery with refined musical interpretation. His compositions blend traditional and contemporary musical elements, showcasing a style that is both poetic and innovative.This choral work is scored for SATB mixed choir, oboe, and string quartet, and consists of seven movements structured in a symmetrical musical palindrome. The first movement, ‘Wealth Enough for Me,’ and the seventh movement, ‘Let Me Love,’ are both in D major, sharing similar musical elements. The oboe melody and arch-shaped thematic motives, combined with the choir’s rich sonorities, create a unifying effect that frames the entire work. The second movement, ‘Peace Flows into Me,’ and the sixth movement, ‘And I For You,’ are in relative keys and share certain melodic materials, with contrasting accompaniment textures that depict the multifaceted nature of love. The third movement, ‘Who Gave My Soul to Me,’ and the fifth movement, ‘Spend All You Have on Loveliness,’ also in relative keys, are written for unison or homophonic textures, portraying the themes of love’s devotion and fulfillment. The fourth movement, ‘For You I am Still,’ stands as a pivotal emotional turning point within the work, as its slow-paced melody uniquely conveys the essence of the text without being reiterated in other movements.This thesis consists of four chapters. Chapter One, “Introduction,” outlines the research motivation, scope, and methodology. Chapter Two, “Contextual Exploration,” provides an overview of the poet Sara Teasdale and composer Michael John Trotta, along with an analysis of the text. Chapter Three, “Musical Analysis and Interpretation,” presents a detailed examination of each movement. Finally, Chapter Four, “Conclusion,” summarizes the findings of this study.