New Works for Classical Ukulele
Creators: name: Muir, Samantha Helene
Publisher: name: University of Surrey
Year: 2023

description: To date, despite its rising popularity, no academic research has been undertaken on the classical
description: ukulele style. That is to say there is no academic context or foundation for the techniques and
description: repertoires that define the classical ukulele. Thus, while the overall purpose of this research inquiry
description: was forward looking in its aim of creating new works, it was also backward looking in its desire to
description: better understand and draw on the instrument’s European heritage. The research outcomes presented
description: in this portfolio are, therefore, both practical (scores and recordings) and theoretical (papers and
description: articles).<br>
description: <br>
description: The practical outcomes are contained in portfolio folders B (Scores) and C (Recordings) and
description: meet the primary aim of the research inquiry to create new, idiomatic works for classical ukulele in
description: order to help establish a contemporary classical repertoire for the instrument. The new works
description: include original pieces, arrangements and commissioned pieces. A number of didactic works are
description: also included as evidence of my continued engagement with the ukulele community and ongoing
description: commitment to promote classical ukulele. The publication of my The Classical Ukulele Method in
description: 2019 was in fact the first ukulele method to offer a systematic approach to learning the techniques
description: associated with the classical ukulele style.<br>
description: <br>
description: The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns affected my research in unexpected, and
description: surprisingly positive, ways. With all live events and face-to-face teaching cancelled, new
description: opportunities arose through social media and online platforms such as Zoom. During this period of
description: isolation and restriction my engagement with the broader ukulele community increased. Despite the
description: many frustrations of unstable internet connections and latency issues, which made playing together
description: impossible, many workshops and performances were held online. In 2020 I created a Patreon
description: channel offering pre-recorded tutorials and live workshops on classical ukulele techniques and
description: repertoire. Connecting with many aspiring classical ukulele players across the globe (USA, Canada,
description: Australia, Japan, EU and UK) highlighted the importance of developing a robust curriculum for the
description: classical ukulele. Details of all events are contained in Folder D (Extra Material).<br>
description: <br>
description: The thesis is in two sections. The first section explores ‘The Classical Ukulele in Theory’
description: and the second ‘The Classical Ukulele in Practice’. The theoretical material includes research into
description: the Madeiran machete, one of the direct forerunners of the ukulele. The culmination of this research
description: was an article, commissioned and published by Revista Portuguesa de Educação Artística (2022),
description: which contributed new insights into the musical career of Clara Phelps, a student of the nineteenth
description: century Madeiran composer and machete player Candido Drummond. Prior to writing the article I
description: was commissioned by the Associação Regional de Educação Artística, Madeira to record the first
description: full CD of pieces for machete and guitar by Candido Drummond (The Music of Candido
description: Drummond de Vasconcelos, 2019).<br>
description: <br>
description: The second part of ‘The Classical Ukulele in Theory’ contains a detailed discussion of the
description: classical ukulele style and looks at the historical use of guitar techniques on the ukulele. This
description: discussion provides a background and a context for Section 2 ‘The Classical Ukulele in Practice’.
description: This section then explores the different techniques used in the new works for classical ukulele and
description: illustrates how many of these techniques were adapted from the classical guitar, the four course
description: Renaissance guitar and the five course Baroque guitar. The full texts of the theoretical papers and
description: articles which are not included in the body of the thesis are contained in Folder A (Published Papers
description: and Presentations).<br>
description: <br>
description: Although classical ukulele is often regarded as a new and more formal approach to the
description: ukulele and one that is largely driven by players with a background in classical guitar, my research
description: findings demonstrate how many of the earliest players also approached the ukulele from a guitar
description: perspective. In this context the current classical ukulele movement is perhaps best viewed as a
description: reawakening, revitalising and reimagining of old techniques, methods and repertoires, driven by a
description: vision to create contemporary classical works for the instrument.<br>