Date of Project
5-4-2023
Document Type
Honors Thesis
School Name
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Music
Major Advisor
Dr. Louie Hehman
Second Advisor
Prof. Dave Clark
Abstract
“The Legend of the City of Ys” is a Breton story of a city’s downfall and curse to be swallowed by the sea. Years later, this tragic tale inspired “The Engulfed Cathedral,” a piano composition for Claude Debussy’s Preludes, Book I, L. 117. Following analyses of “The Legend of the City of Ys” and “The Engulfed Cathedral,” an interpretation of the narrative was created in American Sign Language to be performed with the music. The goal is to focus on inclusivity and accessibility in music for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, and then expand that to consider how to bridge the divide between Deaf and hearing communities. This project illustrates that storytelling is a core aspect of the human experience that transcends boundaries and connects people despite their differences. By exploring a story through different modes of communication, the aptitudes and limitations of each medium can be assessed, and the value of diverse forms of expression can be recognized.
Recommended Citation
Major, Elise, "Storytelling through Impressionist Music and American Sign Language: The Engulfed Cathedral" (2023). Undergraduate Theses. 111.
https://scholarworks.bellarmine.edu/ugrad_theses/111