The purpose of this thesis is to analyze in detail five original compositions, each written for the performance of these pieces on March 14, 2009 for a Master's recital. In order to maintain a certain level of musical continuity among these compositions, each was created in such a way as to possess similar musical characteristics of melodic and harmonic structure. These similarities are also reflected within the overall arrangement of each composition and use of instrumentation as well. The following pages will analyze each of these compositions in accordance with several important musical factors. These elements are form and chord analysis, melodic and harmonic content, and meter and rhythm. The author's original scores are included in the appendix.
