One Year Later

Here we are again. One year ago (not exactly to the T), I was writing my undergraduate thesis. Having never written anything that large in my life (12,000+ words), I'm not even sure how I got it done. I wrote one chapter at a time and sent it to my professor in drafts. My deadline for the paper was May 9, and I remember submitting the first draft of my 3rd and longest chapter in March. The other chapters came subsequently. As with most undergraduate theses, a viva was not required. Only the approval of my supervisor was the key to passing for my degree. The same is of the masters at Bangor. Dr. Leitmeir must approve the work, even though an external examiner will review it as well, but my professor will see the evolution of the paper, from start to finish. He will know by the time of the finished product what was going on in my head (knowledge database) throughout that time.

I LOVED my undergraduate topic and I remember getting very frustrated when I tried to make a point several times in drafts and my professor just would not get it. It was because of either my way of explanation was confusing or he was not literate on the topic, or both. I've chosen my undergraduate topic as my doctoral topic, mainly because I could talk on this literature all day for years and not get bored with it. I love the music and find it a very relaxing topic. Having written 56 pages on the topic already, I do know something about it going into a doctoral thesis.

Now, first thing's first. I loved my masters topic originally, but was that because it was relief that I got it approved? Or am I just too excited about the upcoming doctoral project? God only knows. 20,000 words are due by September 25. If I plan it right, and write 1,000 words a day, I can have the first full draft of the dissertation by August 20 at the lastest. If I do more than 1000+ a day because I can get on a kick, well then good for me.. Of course, I would send my advisor completed chapters as I finished them, so it's not like he would receive a huge document in late August. So that would leave a month for revisions. I had that same amount of time for a similar sized document. Maybe Leitmeir and Papsion will give me an extension since I was formally late in starting my diss. I dunno. Leitmeir and I will worry about that when the time comes.

One year from now, I hope to start my doctoral work. Well technically, the MPhil comes first before moving to the Ph.D. The M.Phil thesis is 40,000 words and the Ph.D. is 80,000 minimum. With the time I have free in the states, I hope to do research and reading on my own, along with score studies and listening sessions, outline planning, etc. Now I'm not sure if the M.Phil thesis is expanded into the Ph.D. thesis, or you have to start all over again. Like say, my MPhil work was on Arvo Part's music and then I wanted to expand for the doctorate with Gorecki and Tavener. I wouldn't have to rewrite the Part (40,000 words give or take), but I would just write the Gorecki and Tavener sections...not sure if that would work, but worth asking.

Rant: I wish Arvo would have made the Agnus Dei of his Berlin Mass at least 2 minutes longer. It's just so relaxing and ENDS TOO SOON!!! ARGH!! :)

Thesis Outline
Chapter 1 (The Spiritual Madrigal and Devotional Love, includes Introduction) - 5,000 words
Chapter 2 (Lasso's Lagrime di San Pietro) - 6,000 words
Chapter 3 (Palestrina's Le Vergini) - 5,000 words
Chapter 4 (Palestrina's Canticum Canticorum) - 3,000 words
Conclusion - 1,000 words (not as a fifth chapter at the moment unless my DA decides otherwise)

As chapters are returned to me, I must keep to my 1,000 words a day for new chapters, and yet continue revisions with the old ones, so that would give me more than a month to revise the work. Hopefully since he's approved the outline and we've discussed it in great detail, I will only have minor revisions. And not complete reworkings of chapters.

As with the previous paper, I have already decided who it is dedicated to before it is written. Undergrad paper had 4-5. This one has three, for specific reasons. And the preceding quote has now been picked. Oddly enough, I know who my doctoral thesis is dedicated to, well the two people anyway.

Now that is off my chest, off to reorganising the notes according to the new outline!! xx