Arthur Bird's Suite in D for Double Wind Quintet: a Descriptive Analysis

The purpose of this study was to investigate Arthur Bird's (1856-1923) Suite in D for double wind quintet. This study presents a biographical sketch about the composer and a descriptive analysis of the Suite in D in order to bring attention to this turn of the twentieth-century American composer and the substantial number of works Bird created. Existing, accessible information focusing upon Arthur Bird and his music is limited, therefore, it is important to provide conductors and performers with another resource as they study and perform the chamber works of Arthur Bird. The document presents a brief biographical sketch about Bird and his music as it pertains to the Suite in D, a description of the compositional origins and historical context of the Suite, and a descriptive musical analysis examining aspects of formal organization, harmonic content, melody, and rhythmic vocabulary. Bird's music is considered to be meritorious among work by American and European art music composers during the turn of the twentieth century and it is hoped that this document will help to bring his work to a broader audience.