Franz Liszt composed his Two Episodes from Lenau's Faust between 1856 and 1861. The composer intended to portray two emotionally contrasting scenes from Lenau's Faust in a set for orchestra, the first being The Night Procession and the second The Dance in the Village Inn. Liszt created a duet version of the orchestral set, and also a solo piano version of The Dance in the Village Inn, known as the Mephisto Waltz No. 1. The set was not performed together due to the immense popularity of The Dance in the Village Inn but also due to an unfortunate publication history resulting in the pieces being published separately by Schuberth publishers, published years apart from each other. As a result The Night Procession is largely forgotten today and The Dance in the Village Inn is interpreted as a single work outside of its context in a set. In this dissertation the works are examined from within its context in a set. Background information includes information on Liszt's student Robert Freund (1852-1936), and a solo piano transcription of the orchestral alternative ending to The Dance in the Village Inn. A comparison between Liszt's orchestral, solo and duet versions of the Mephisto Waltz No. 1 and the Liszt-Busoni Mephisto Waltz No. 1 is also made.

Franz Liszt (1811-1886) made fifty-six transcriptions of Schubert's songs over a period of eight years (1838-46) to introduce the name of the composer, who was little known both in and outside Vienna during his lifetime. Because Liszt intentionally preserved all the details of the original songs, these transcriptions present challenges for a pianist, such as how to produce a vocal line on the piano, as well as interpretive issues such as ornamentation, style, and conveying the meaning of the lyrics on the piano. The purpose of this study is to introduce pianists to study practices employed by singers, with the goal of interpreting the vocal aspects of Liszt's Schubert song transcriptions. The composer Robert Schumann once remarked that Liszt's transcriptions were perhaps the most difficult pieces written for the piano up to that time, and only an intelligent artist could satisfy Liszt's high level of virtuosity without destroying the identity of the original work. This could be considered a warning to pianists not to focus on the technical aspects only. The pedagogical guide presented in the study, based on singers' approaches to the actual songs, should help pianists to "see beyond the notes" and achieve a performance closer to the heart of the songs.

Cette thèse est une recherche comparative globale des techniques pianistiques utilisées dans les Douze études dans les tons mineurs op. 39 de Charles-Valentin Alkan et les Études d'exécution transcendante de Franz Liszt. À partir de ce concept, ce document explore l'évolution du piano en France à l'époque des deux compositeurs. De plus, il détermine leurs innovations pianistiques ainsi que les styles personnels qui les caractérisent dans ces deux recueils. On y trouve également une analyse du langage musical apparu dans chaque étude et l'influence des autres compositeurs. Cet écrit présente un parcours des différentes textures pianistiques du point de vue de l'interprète. Ce survol a pour but d'arriver à une pratique optimale ainsi qu'à une utilisation efficace des moyens corporels pour obtenir une meilleure qualité de son. En somme, cette recherche porte sur la résolution des problèmes techniques des œuvres de ces deux compositeurs qui se trouvent au sommet de la virtuosité au 19e siècle. / This thesis is a comprehensive comparative research of piano techniques used in Charles-Valentin Alkan's Twelve Etudes In the Minor Keys op. 39 and Franz Liszt's Transcendental Etude. From this starting point, this document explores the historical evolution of the piano in France during these two composer's time. It also determines their pianistic innovations as well as the personal styles that define them in these two collections. The reader will also find an analysis of the musical language that appeared in each etude as well as the influence from other composers' styles. This document presents an overview of different pianistic textures explained from the interpreter's standpoint. This overview targets an optimal way for practicing and an efficient use of the body in order to obtain a better sound quality. Thus, this research is about the resolution of technical problems that one can find in the works of these two composers who are at the top of the 19th Century's virtuosity

The first three recitals included one recital of chamber music and two recitals of solo piano music. The first recital consisted of music for clarinet and piano, performed with Dr. Lee Gibson of the music faculty of North Texas State University. This program included the Mozart Clarinet Concerto, Five Atonal Pieces by William Latham, Sonata in F minor by Johannes Brahms, and Four Pieces for clarinet and piano by Alban Berg. The second recital contained the D minor Concerto of Marcello, transcribed by J. S. Sach, Sonata No. 1 by Karl Haria von Weber, Sposalizio by Franz Liszt, Sonata in F by Nels Harveland, and Three Fantasies from Opus 116 by Johannes Brahms. The third recital consisted of the F minor Fantasy by Mozart, Variations on a Theme of Rameau by Paul Dukas, Sechs Kleine Klavierstucke by Arnold Schoenberg and Four Preludes by Sergei Rachraaninov. The fourth recital featured a comparison of selected Liszt and Schumann piano transcriptions of Paganini Viol in Caprices. Musical examples comparing the Paganini Caprices and the transcriptions by Liszt and Schumann, in addition to examples comparing the similarities and differences between the transcriptions of Liszt and Schumann, were interspersed throughout the lecture.

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.