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Concerto for Piano and Orchestra is a three-movement composition for solo piano and orchestra. The three movements follow the general pattern of fast-slow-fast, although the first movement includes some slow sections. There is no break in continuity between the second and third movements. The duration of the entire work is approximately nineteen minutes, the first movement equivalent in time to the second and third movements combined.

The literal meaning of "transcription" is "written across"; in freer terminology it is "the musical counter-part of literary translation." The terms "arrangement" and "transcription: are used synonymously by nearly all musical dictionaries. However, even then , there is often a distinction made, an arrangement being considered to adhere strictly to the original text while a transcription admits of creative participation on part of the arranger, ranging from the simple transference of musical medium to the complete reworking of a composition with additions and modifications.

The Sonata for Two Pianos, eighteen in duration, is in the form of a large arch. The arch is constructed by relating the last movement to the second and first movements by borrowing material from these movements. The resulting form is a large ABA comprising the entire composition. The arch is superimposed over a more traditional formal concept of sonata. A sonata-allegro form is distinguishable in the first movement, a fantasia-variations in the second, and a modified sonata-allegro in the final movement.

The purpose of this thesis is to document what the author has experienced and learned in his search for answers to the question “how do I play piano without discomfort or pain?”. In this thesis, the question is specifically investigated through the author’s experiences trying to retrain a playing technique riddled with severe tension into one with enough comfort and ease to enable him to play the Etudes Op. 10 by Frédéric Chopin according to his musical wishes. First, an exploration of the existing piano technique literature to find information on what constitutes a “healthy” technique was conducted. Next, an extensive period of experimentation with the various ideas encountered followed, where a variety of issues with the author´s technique were identified, many setbacks were encountered, and some insights were gained. Finally, these ideas were applied on the author´s study of the Etudes until a take of the author playing through the set was recorded. The thesis ends with documenting the conclusions the author has made regarding piano technique based on this process, and finally with some reflections over the experience as a whole. / <p>Frédéric Chopin - Etudes, Op. 10</p><p>Leo Gavel, piano</p>

Alberto Nepomuceno was one of the leading figures in developing Brazilian art music at the turn of the twentieth century. He became widely known for his Brazilian art songs and kept promoting Brazilian music and the use of Portuguese as an "art language" throughout his life. Nepomuceno has widely been seen as a nationalist composer, yet some of his works adopt a more European style. In this study, I argue that Nepomuceno incorporates European musical languages in his Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 9. I display the rich interaction of Brazilian national identity and European influence within Nepomuceno's musical life. I also provide a thorough formal analysis of this piano sonata to argue that in some of his music he adopted a distinctively European musical language, including baroque and classical elements. In addition to analyzing the sonata-form and rondo-form elements, this dissertation discusses the use of several important topics in the work, including the Siciliano rhythm, contrapuntal writing, pedal points with organ effects, and impact of Brahms on Nepomuceno's piano writing. Moreover, I analyze how Nepomuceno assimilated European musical styles as the basis for his own compositions, as well as the innovations with which he augmented those styles. An analysis of this sonata can enhance our understandings of how musical training in Europe shaped the production of Latin American composers.

As a political disturbance and social movement, the Cultural Revolution hugely impacted the development of Chinese piano art. The piano went through many stages throughout this ten-year period. This dissertation examines the suppression and later expansion of piano music in China during the Cultural Revolution, along with the historical motivations and forces that shaped each stage of its development. The study is supported by historical documents and relevant literature. This dissertation includes an analysis of the roles that piano music played during this era and the piano's relationship with the Cultural Revolution's modernizing goals. The analysis focuses on the musical characteristics of three piano pieces from this period and explores the instrument's historical importance, to better understand how Chinese piano music maintained a careful balance between its value as a tool for socio-political propaganda and its transformation under the burden of political pressure and creative limitations. Additionally, this dissertation examines playing techniques in these works that define a distinctly Chinese piano style that is enormously popular today. To complement the dissertation, these piano pieces were performed during the dissertation recital.

The purpose of this dissertation is to introduce and provide a pedagogical guide for two etude works by Lowell Liebermann (b. 1961): Four Etudes on Songs of Brahms, Op. 88 (2004) and Four Etudes on Songs of Robert Franz, Op. 91 (2005). It includes a brief biography and observations on the compositional style of the composer; a history and development of the etude from the eighteenth century to Liebermann's time; research on Liebermann's works based on songs of other composers; and a pedagogical guide on how to approach each piece, covering four types of technical issues: articulation, phrasing, voicing of the melodic lines, and fingerings.

In Chinese musical history, piano works have played an important role in modern times. The flourishing of the instrument and its music have in fact greatly developed Chinese modern music. Zhao Zhang's masterpiece Pi Huang, with its elements of Peking Opera, is one representative of the latest Chinese classic solo piano works. By coincidence, the introduction of the first Western keyboard instrument to China and the rise of Peking Opera came almost at the same time, during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Therefore, the incorporation of Peking Opera into Pi Huang is a reasonable and creative combination. This dissertation conducts a pedagogical analysis of Pi Huang, showing how it was influenced by elements of Peking Opera. The three main chapters discuss the background of Peking Opera, the biography of Zhao Zhang, and the musical background and performing issues of Pi Huang.