| This thesis contains a brief history of American composer Stephen Foster and his song Hard Times Come Again No More, as well as a musical analysis and new interpretation of the song. A new composition has been created using the original basis material of Foster's work, rewritten into the styles of four twentieth century composers of the American Musical Theater: Richard Rodgers, Jerry Bock, John Kander, and Stephen Sondheim. The thesis researches one song of each composer and uses this song to re-imagine Hard Times as if it had been written by him in place of an existing musical theater piece.;Following the analysis and research, the score of the new composition and individual parts for a 30-piece orchestra are included. |
