Thesis Format

Alternative Format

Capital

Author

Christopher J. Miller, Western UniversityFollow

Degree

Master of Music

Program

Music

Supervisor

Omar Daniel

Abstract

Capital is a piece for orchestra, baritone, and pop band that portrays the proliferation of economic inequality in the Unites States, and the failures of capitalism as a whole. Capital is guided by extramusical texts: Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty, and Das Kapital by Karl Marx. The text, for baritone, is taken from particularly poignant moments of Das Kapital that represent Marx's critique of capitalism, while the glissando, in the string section, is a musical translation of the income inequality chart by Thomas Piketty. The approach of this piece is hauntological. Specifically, that we are haunted by a future Marx proposed, but never happened. This is expressed by the pop band. Each popular song chosen for this piece was published in the same years as the original publication dates of Das Kapital: 1867, 1885, and 1894.

Summary for Lay Audience

Capital is a piece for orchestra, baritone and pop band that is based on the works of Karl Marx and Thomas Piketty. The text, for baritone, is taken from particularly poignant moments of Das Kapital by Karl Marx and parts of the orchestra represent the income inequality chart (in the U.S.) by Thomas Piketty. This piece portrays the failures of capitalism through pillars of sound.

Recommended Citation

Miller, Christopher J., "Capital" (2024). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 10313.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/10313