William P. Dougherty, Ellis and Nelle Levitt Professor of Music at Drake University, will deliver the 29th Luther W. Stalnaker lecture on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium at Drake University, 2507 University Ave.
His lecture, “Signs in Song,” will discuss the relationship between music and text. After an examination of intermediality in selected settings of Goethe’s Kennst du das Land, Dougherty will discuss one of his own compositions. Senior music major Katie Galliart will sing Kennst du das Land, and the Drake University Chamber Choir, conducted by Aimee Beckmann-Collier, will perform Dougherty’s This Lunar Beauty (poetry by W.H. Auden).
Dougherty teaches courses in music theory and composition. His research is directed toward developing a semiotic approach to the art song. He has published numerous articles and book chapters on music and text relationships, and he has presented papers in Poland, Finland, Switzerland, Australia, France, Italy, Scotland, and Germany. He is currently completing a book titled Mignon in Music: The Art Song as Semeiotic. He has twice been awarded National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships to pursue his research.
Dougherty received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Illinois Wesleyan University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in music from The Ohio State University. As a composer, Dougherty has published music for orchestra, wind ensemble, chamber ensembles, and soloists. He has been commissioned by the Polaris Wind Quintet, the Brass Band of Columbus, the Drake Fine Arts Trio, the Pioneer String Quartet, the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra, the New England Symphony Orchestra, the New England Wind Ensemble, and numerous chamber groups and soloists. Additionally, Dougherty has written compositions for several Drake faculty members and student ensembles.
The Stalnaker Lecture Series, now in its 29th year, honors the memory of Luther W. Stalnaker, dean of the College of Liberal Arts from 1940 to 1954. It was endowed by gifts from the Stalnaker family and emeriti faculty, and receives continuing support from the College of Arts and Sciences. Liberal Arts from 1940 to 1954. Gifts from the Stalnaker family and emeriti faculty endowed the series, and it receives continuing support from the College of Arts and Sciences.