The composer has earnestly sought to capture in this work, Allegra for Orchestra in C minor, the clarity and simplicity that is commonly associated with works of the Classic Period of musical composition. He has tried to accomplish this by making use of musical composition. He has tried to accomplish this by making use of present day approaches toward musical composition, yet trying to delete the cleverness, the bizarre effects, and the trite pomposity that one finds so prevalent in much of the music that has been written since the beginning of the twentieth century. This effort toward simplicity extends to form, harmonic content, texture, and instrumentation.

Access to abstract is permanently restricted. / Review of literature -- Biography -- Myaskovsky's compositional style -- Piano sonata no. 4 in C minor, op. 27 : history of its creation, summary of the style and form -- Analysis. / School of Music

Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Opus 11, is important primarily as a transitional work. It is the first work in which Mendelssohn deploys large orchestral forces in the traditional form of the symphony; thus, it provided Mendelssohn with the means of making the important transition from the relatively small, chamber-music ensemble in which he had previously worked (as represented by the "string symphonies") to large-scale symphonic works. Its historical or biographical importance definitely outweighs its importance as a musical work in its own right; this can be seen by the fact that it is much less performed today than other symphonies by Mendelssohn. In these later symphonies the composer displays his talents in a more fully developed form. Nonetheless, Symphony No. 1 has many excellent qualities. It has several memorable melodies and shows the working of a vigorous, youthful, though somewhat derivative musical intelligence. It has several brilliant and memorable moments, although considered as a whole it must still be regarded as a work that promises a greater talent than it displays.

This dissertation is a study of the styles shown in Reubke's The 94th Psalm. As a student of Hermann Bonicke, Theodor Kullak, and Adolf Marx, Reubke was trained in the masters of the Baroque and Classical traditions. Written after his study with Franz Liszt in the newer style, The 94th Psalm is a crystallization of these various influences into his own personal style, a remarkable achievement at age twenty three. It is a synthesis of two different styles of organ music at the time; the traditional and conservative represented by Mendelssohn and Schumann, and the progressive by Liszt. Reubke's unique approach to the sonata fomi in the "double function" unified three individual movements into one musical entity by the use of the cyclic theme. The harmony and the tonality are advanced and anticipate the late nineteenth-century style. As the first programmatic organ music in the nineteenth century, The 94th Psalm is an idiomatic organ work which employed the virtuoso piano technique of the time. In spite of Reubke's young age, The 94th Psalm demonstrates his great maturity. His wish to express himself is realized in the work in profound depth and imagination. Through the psalm text he poured out his mind and soul with tremendous energy. In addition to the prevailing concept of the dominant influence of Liszt on the work, the study discusses in detail other aspects which are equally significant to The 94th Psalm, particularly the classical organ tradition of the time and Adolf Marx's influence. After the introduction in Chapter I, Chapter II describes Reubke's family, his life including musical training and his works. Chapter II discusses the influences on The 94th Psalm; organ composition of the mid-nineteenth-century Germany, the influential teachers and their works. Chapter IV presents an analysis of the work, the programmatic feature, the characteristic harmony, and the cyclic use of the theme. Chapter V deals with the performance of The 94th Psalm: the characteristics of the mid-nineteenth-century organ in Germany, the registration, dynamic and expression marks, and published editions. The final Chapter VI is a conclusion.

The purpose of this study is to become acquainted with the first movement of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony in the same manner as a conductor would when preparing the work for performance. Dr. William Dehning stated in his doctoral thesis: “The correct execution of any music imposes a great responsibility on the conductor of that music to determine what the composer might have intended.” The areas of concern to be discussed in this thesis, then, include analysis, thoughts on aesthetic and stylistic qualities, and some historical accounts relating directly to the Fifth Symphony.

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Master of Music / School of Music, Theatre, and Dance / Slawomir Dobrzanski / This report is a study of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Partita in C minor, BWV 826; Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata in F-sharp major, Op.78; Fryderyk Chopin’s Scherzo in B Minor, Op.20; M. Ravel’s “Miroirs”: II. Oiseaux tristes, IV. Alborada del gracioso, V. Vallee de cloches; These compositions are part of the author’s Master’s Piano Recital given on April 12, 2017. The study mainly discusses from historical, theoretical and stylistic perspectives.

China's role in Western music is ever-expanding. Echoing the growth of classical music in China is the importance of Chinese musicians in the global music world. However, it is easy to forget that Western classical music is a foreign import to China, one that has been resisted for most of its history. The intent of this study is to evaluate the role of Chinese music in the Western classical world. This includes Western education, Western repertoire, and also a historical exploration into the mutual influence of the two styles. One Chinese composition in particular, Huang An-lun's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 57, is selected to analyze the Western and Chinese elements present in the work. This analysis will shed light on the relationship of the two styles and how they amalgamate in modern Chinese music. Although Western classical music today has a strong foothold in China, Chinese contributions to piano literature are largely unknown to the West. China possesses one of the richest musical histories in the world, one which until the twentieth century has largely remained unaffected by Western elements. Its musical heritage extends over thousands of years, deeply rooted in tradition and nationalism. Over the last century, Chinese composition began to incorporate Western musical ideas while still holding on to its own heritage and traditions. This synthesis of Western and Chinese musical elements created a new compositional sound founded on Chinese roots. Huang An-lun, one of China's most prominent living composers, embodies this style in his compositions. Chinese composition is no longer something that is exotic or alien to Western music. Instead, it integrates many Western ideas while still being founded in Chinese heritage, creating a new style that has much to offer the Western classical world.

This thesis presents a brief history of the sonata form until the time of Beethoven. It also discusses Beethoven's use of the sonata form, and how it applies to his op. 111 piano sonata.