Cirrus@Austlit

This dissertation explores the political and theatrical ramifications which occur through Canadian Cree playwright Tomson Highway's appropriation of a dominant Western structural form. Within the field of art music, sonata form is accepted as the most important structural design to emerge not only during the classical period, but arguably throughout musical history. Its dramatic potential in instrumental music is unrivalled, and perhaps only the theatricality and emotion of opera can equal or surpass its ability to elicit this potential.