Date of Graduation

Spring 2026

Degree

Master of Music

Department

Music

Committee Chair

Phillip Roberts

Abstract

Based on The Black Paintings, a series of paintings by Francisco Goya, this orchestral composition ventures into various themes and satirical elements present in select paintings. Topics such as military overreach, the church’s influence on society, and the resistance of scientific ideas are just a few of the areas explored in the finished three movements. First, the composer’s interpretations of the selected works are covered, and then how those themes were translated into the music. Goya’s painting, “Women Laughing,” has numerous names given to it, which are much darker in tone. However, given the somber nature of the subsequent movements, some levity was necessary, so this specific title was chosen. This movement is characterized by its bouncing feel in the ostinatos and short duration, with the three women engaging in a playful exchange of jokes and laughter. “Duel with Cudgels” takes a more sardonic turn, depicting two men brutally beating each other to death in the mud instead of attempting to escape together. In the end, the victor experiences a fleeting moment of triumph before succumbing to the mud. “The Dog” shares the same grim fate as the previous painting. The pre-restoration painting serves as the inspiration for this movement, with two smudges representing birds flying freely while the dog slowly sinks into the mud, gazing upward. Where the duel concluded with tension, the dog’s demise is portrayed with a gentle touch, accompanied by the sound of bell tolls and the final cessation of the organ. Two other movements were planned as the opening movements that are mentioned in the text but are not present in the score.

Keywords

music, orchestra, paintings, instrumental, art

Subject Categories

Composition | Painting

Copyright

© Cody Anderson

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