I detta arbete analyseras det omfattande pianoverket ”Dantesonaten” komponerat av Franz Liszt i syfte om att ta reda på vilka musikaliska och tekniska element han utnyttjat för att uttrycka djävulen, helvetet och andra diaboliska företeelser i sin musik. Därmed kommer en djupgående analys av eposet Den gudomliga komedin skrivet av Dante Alighieri genomförasdå Liszt baserat sin komposition på detta verk. Liszts intresse för Den gudomliga komedin och Dante som poet belyses samt varför han valt att basera sin sonat på detta ämne. Resultatet tyder på att Liszt använt dissonanta intervall som tritonus, dimackord, heltonsskalor, kromatik och tremoloteknik m.m. för att allt i kombination bilda en tydlig representation av det som kan kopplas med det diaboliska. Största delen av resultatet består av egna tolkningar men även andras interpretationer hämtade från olika litterära källor och online-resurser. Det var svårt att finna konkreta tecken på vad kompositörens egna återspeglingar i musiken må ha varit. Däremot kan detta arbete ändå vara en bra utgångspunkt för en pianist som planerar att spela verket och vill få idéer om hur det diaboliska materialet och andra teman ur ”Dantesonaten” kan tolkas. / In this study, the extensive piano piece "The Dante Sonata" composed by Franz Liszt is analyzed in order to find out what musical and technical elements he has used to express the devil, hell and other diabolical phenomena in his music. Thus, an in-depth analysis of the narrative poem The Divine Comedy written by Dante Alighieri will be made, as Liszt bases his composition on this work. The study investigates Liszt's interest in The Divine Comedyand Dante as a poet and why he chose to base his sonata on this subject. The results indicate that Liszt used dissonant intervals such as tritones, diminished chords, whole-tone scales, chromatic passages and tremolo technique, etc. to all in combination form a clear representation of the diabolical. Most of the results consist of own interpretations but also other renderings taken from various literary sources and online-resources. It was difficult to find concrete signs of what the composer's own reflections in the music may have been. However, this work can still be a good starting point for a pianist who plans to study thismusic and want to get ideas on how the diabolical material and other themes from "The Dante Sonata" can be interpreted. / <p>F. Liszt - Après une Lecture du Dante (Fantasia quasi Sonata) från Années de pèlerinage II, Deuxième année: Italie, S. 161, Nr. 7, "Dantesonaten"</p>

Ce mémoire porte sur la Symphonie en ré de César Franck, une œuvre écrite entre 1887 et 1888 et créée en 1889. Plus précisément, nous nous intéressons à l’organisation du matériau unificateur de cette œuvre tout en observant les problèmes que pose l’approche cyclique développée par Vincent d’Indy. Nous faisons ainsi valoir les apports et avantages à adopter plutôt la transformation thématique, une méthodologie fortement associée à l’œuvre de Franz Liszt. Théorisée en 1909 au sein du Cours de composition musicale, la forme cyclique exerce une emprise dominante dans la littérature musicologique s’intéressant à l’analyse de l’œuvre de César Franck. Nous mettons en lumière des biais idéologiques et nationalistes du discours de Vincent d’Indy visant à promouvoir la supériorité légitime des compositeurs français sur les Allemands en développant une conception de l’excellence fondée sur des métaphores chrétiennes (la trinité, la cathédrale gothique). Cette argumentation a pour effet néfaste de gommer des données historiographiques importantes telles que les échanges culturels s’établissant de part et d’autre du Rhin ou encore les contacts significatifs qu’ont entretenus César Franck et Franz Liszt. Cette recherche permet ainsi de nuancer la théorie de d’Indy et d’enrichir la perspective analytique de la Symphonie de César Franck en la remettant dans son contexte sociohistorique. L’étude de la transformation thématique a l’avantage de prendre en compte la dimension expressive des thèmes de la Symphonie en plus de la notion d’unité inhérente à l’œuvre et aide à approfondir les affinités musicales qui rapprochent Franck et Liszt. / This thesis focuses on César Franck's Symphony in D, a work written between 1887 and 1888, and premiered in 1889. More precisely, we are interested in the organization of the unifying material of this work while observing the problems posed by the cyclical approach developed by Vincent d'Indy. We thus highlight the contributions and advantages of adopting thematic transformation instead, a methodology strongly associated with the work of Franz Liszt. Theorized in 1909 as part of the “Cours de composition musicale”, the cyclical form exerts a hegemonic hold in the musicological literature interested in the analysis of the work of César Franck. We highlight the ideological and nationalist biases of Vincent d’Indy’s speech, aimed at promoting the legitimate superiority of French composers over the Germans by developing a conception of excellence based on Christian metaphors (the Trinity, the Gothic cathedral). This argument has the detrimental effect of erasing important historiographical data such as the cultural crosscurrent taking place on both sides of the Rhine or the significant contacts that César Franck and Franz Liszt maintained. This research thus makes it possible to qualify d’Indy’s theory and enrich the analytical perspective of César Franck’s Symphony by placing it in its socio-historical contexts. The study of the thematic transformation has the advantage to consider the expressive dimension of the themes of the Symphony while focusing on the unity of the piece, and helps deepen the musical affinities that bring Franck and Liszt close together.

In addition to his renowned musical output, Richard Wagner produced a logorrhoeic prose oeuvre, including a dramatic sketch of the last weeks of the life of Jesus Christ entitled Jesus von Nazareth. Though drafted in 1848-1849, it was published only posthumously, and has therefore been somewhat neglected in the otherwise voluminous Wagnerian literature. This thesis first examines the origins of Jesus von Nazareth amidst the climate of revolution wherein it was conceived, ascertaining its place within Wagner’s own internal development and amongst the radical thinkers who influenced it. While Ludwig Feuerbach has traditionally been seen as the most prominent of these, this thesis examines Wagner’s sources more broadly. The thesis then summarizes and analyzes Jesus von Nazareth itself, particularly in terms of Wagner’s use of biblical scripture. The thesis demonstrates how his not infrequent misuse thereof constitutes one way in which Wagner transmogrifies Jesus as mutable lens through which his own ideology of social revolution is reflected. It also attempts to provide a critical assessment of the relative dramatic merits of Jesus von Nazareth and looks into Wagner’s ultimate decision not to complete the work. The thesis then briefly summarizes the changes that occurred in Wagner’s mature Christological outlook subsequent to his drafting of Jesus von Nazareth, attempting to concisely demonstrate some developments beyond Wagner’s well-known encounter with the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer. The thesis concludes with an evaluation of how Jesus von Nazareth informed Wagner’s general religious outlook and the extent to which this worldview is a productive one.

This dissertation is divided into six chapters. The first chapter explains the purpose and significance of the study. The second chapter presents an analysis about Wanderer Fantasy, D.760 composed by Schubert, employing Schenker analysis to elucidate important motives. Chapter 3 provides an analysis of Schubert-Liszt, Wanderer Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra, S. 366 and shows how Liszt transcribed the original to emphasize certain motives, and further, describes the development of the piano history. Chapter 4 delves into an analysis of Schubert-Liszt, Wanderer Fantasy for Two Pianos, S. 653a transcribed by Franz Liszt and further explains the historic development of piano, in particular Érard's grand piano. Chapter 5 explains the analysis of Schubert-Liszt, Wanderer Fantasy for Piano Solo, S.565a and expands upon Érard's grand piano. Finally, Chapter 6 leads to this paper's summary and conclusion.

The transcriptions of Franz Liszt (1811-1886) and Anton Rubinstein (1829-1894) on Beethoven's "Marcia alla turca" serve as unique examples within the area of transcription since each of these important virtuosos transcribed the movement with drastically different results. Liszt's Capriccio alla turca (1846) is built on Beethoven's thematic materials although it is presented with a greatly embellished accompaniment providing countermelodies, expanded passages, and vigorous rhythmic features. In contrast, Rubinstein's Turkish March (1848) attempts to capture Beethoven's original (1811) as closely as possible adhering to the form and harmonies. Each composer's approach served to showcase new pianistic innovations capturing orchestral sonorities at the piano previously unimagined. This dissertation offers musical insight for two less well-known works from significant pianist-composers which should receive further attention. Additionally, this research provides greater documentation for the compositions of Rubinstein, supplementing the historical accounts of his abilities as a performer. Examination and comparative analysis of each transcription not only illuminates the creative approaches each composer employed in creating his transcription, but also serves pianists wishing to perform these neglected works.