Thesis (MMus (Music))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The work presented herewith is an orchestration of one of the most idiomatic piano pieces composed by Alexander Scriabin: the Sonata no.3 in F‐sharp minor, Op. 23. This particular orchestration involved a process of profound examination and comprehension of the form of the sonata, as well as understanding the role of each instrument of the symphony orchestra, and how they could contribute to an orchestral reconstruction of Scriabin’s work. The re‐creation of the piano part, and the whole experience that supported this challenge, resulted in the individual production in which my particular interpretation of Scriabin’s music reflects the maturity of an absorbed investigation of his style of composition.

The purpose of this paper is to give a historical and stylistic analysis of the Sonata, Op.31, No.2 in D minor of Beethoven. The historical background of Beethoven, the time period the sonata was written, and the influence that the piano of the time had on the sonata is first discussed. The author then discusses the general aspects of Beethoven's style followed by a detailed analysis of the sonata.

Thesis (D.M.A)--University of Maryland, College Park, 2005. / Compact discs.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T17:06:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ester.pdf: 5980620 bytes, checksum: fc53239d0e57e20b60f20ae83040ff87 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-14 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This dissertation addresses the relationship between nationalistic discourse and composition in the context of Brazilian nationalistic musical tendencies in the twentieth century, focusing on the Sonatinas for piano by Camargo Guarnieri. Bibliographic research relating to nationalism, utilizing publications in the areas of Social Sciences and Musicology, raised questions which were later discussed in relation to the object of study. Musical analysis of the Sonatinas was realized, summarizing the typically Brazilian elements and the treatment given by the composer to these elements. The recurrence of several elements considered typically Brazilian, chosen and transformed by the composer, was observed in the Sonatinas. However, it was also noted that a gradual separation from more popular elements took place during the 54 years in which the Sonatinas were produced (1928 1982). Although such elements remained present, they became less and less obvious, sharing space with polyphonic, chromatic and non-tonal language / Esta dissertação trata da relação entre discurso nacionalista e prática composicional no contexto do nacionalismo musical brasileiro ocorrido no século XX e tem como objeto de estudo as Sonatinas para piano do compositor Camargo Guarnieri. Através de pesquisa bibliográfica a respeito da temática do nacionalismo, utilizando escritos de autores das Ciências Sociais e da Musicologia, foram levantadas questões posteriormente discutidas no âmbito do objeto de estudo. Para isso, foi realizada análise musical das Sonatinas, levantamento dos elementos considerados tipicamente brasileiros e o tratamento dado pelo compositor a estes elementos. Foram encontrados alguns elementos considerados como tipicamente brasileiros constantes nas Sonatinas. Observou-se, entretanto, no decorrer dos 54 anos em que foram produzidas as Sonatinas (1928-1982), um gradual afastamento do compositor em relação aos elementos de fonte popular. Embora tais materiais estejam sempre presentes, eles tornam-se cada vez menos óbvios no interior de uma linguagem própria do compositor

The recordings of the legendary pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski are a valuable documentation of his piano performance style. Knowledge of late-Romantic performance practices gleaned from Paderewski's recordings suggest ways of approaching the performance of his Sonata in E-Flat Minor, Op. 21. This Sonata, composed in 1903 near the end of his compositional career, is a work of the highest caliber, deserving a permanent place in the concert pianist's repertoire. The purpose of this paper is to provide performance suggestions based on Paderewski's performance style which will produce a performance closer to the spirit of the times in which it was written. This study provides an overview of the project in Chapter 1, and a background of Paderewski's life as pianist, composer, and statesman in Chapter 2. A time-line chart of his complete works is included for reference. Chapter 3 analyzes Sonata, Op. 21 in regards to form, sound, melody, harmony, and rhythm. Following the analysis, the Sonata is compared compositionally to sonatas that appear alongside Sonata, Op. 21 on Paderewski's programs, including those by Chopin, Beethoven, and Liszt. Graphs summarize the form and dynamic density of the Sonata, and examples illustrate Paderewski's craft at thematic transformation. Chapter 4 examines Paderewski's performance style documented in recordings of his own compositions and of works by Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, and Beethoven. Consideration is given to various aspects of interpretation, including counterpoint, asynchrony, tempo rubato, rhythmic variance, and pedaling. Each of these aspects of Paderewski's performance style is illustrated with transcriptions of excerpts from Paderewski's recordings. The author proposes examples of application of these aspects to Paderewski's Sonata, Op. 21. Chapter 5 provides a summary of the project. Appendix A contains an analysis of the rhythmic grouping that performers may find useful, and Appendix B contains the recital programs required for the degree program.

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.

Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo investigar empiricamente as decisões interpretativas quanto ao timing e dinâmica de quatro execuções do primeiro movimento da Sonata para piano n.1 de Francisco Mignone. Por meio da comparação de gravações, foram identificadas estratégias expressivas adotadas pelos intérpretes em relação ao timing, dinâmica e articulação, evidenciando assim o direcionamento expressivo do discurso musical em determinados trechos da obra. Tendo em vista os eventos musicais característicos de cada seção da Sonata, foi realizada uma análise da organização rítmica que apoiou a análise das gravações. / This research aimed at empirically investigating the interpretative decisions regarding timing and dynamics of four recorded performances of the first movement of Sonata n.1 for piano by Francisco Mignone. The comparison identified the expressive strategies adopted by the chosen interpreters in relation to articulation and dynamics thus bringing out the temporal profiles of predetermined spans. Issues such as background and organizational planning of the Sonata were taken into account in view of the musical events characteristic of each section. Theories of rhythmic organization supported the analyses of recordings.

The analytical literature posits a dichotomy between Copland’s “popular” and “serious” music. Despite different motivic and hannonic structures on the surface, however, these styles are consistent in their underlying use of tonality. Tonics in both styles are defined by the same set of tonicizing techniques; and tonics in both styles serve the same function — to define the changing scale-degree function of pcs that are emphasized in various ways as common to the collections of successive tonics. The most important of these changes in scale-degree function are summarized in pitch-class continuity graphs that show the relation of the changes to thematic and harmonic form. Detailed analyses, which cover two “popular” and two “serious” works by Copland, demonstrate the consistency between the two styles. Besides demonstrating an underlying stylistic consistency these graphs provide useful information about structure in Copland’s music because they confirm striking features of Copland’s thematic and tonal designs.

Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo investigar empiricamente as decisões interpretativas quanto ao timing e dinâmica de quatro execuções do primeiro movimento da Sonata para piano n.1 de Francisco Mignone. Por meio da comparação de gravações, foram identificadas estratégias expressivas adotadas pelos intérpretes em relação ao timing, dinâmica e articulação, evidenciando assim o direcionamento expressivo do discurso musical em determinados trechos da obra. Tendo em vista os eventos musicais característicos de cada seção da Sonata, foi realizada uma análise da organização rítmica que apoiou a análise das gravações. / This research aimed at empirically investigating the interpretative decisions regarding timing and dynamics of four recorded performances of the first movement of Sonata n.1 for piano by Francisco Mignone. The comparison identified the expressive strategies adopted by the chosen interpreters in relation to articulation and dynamics thus bringing out the temporal profiles of predetermined spans. Issues such as background and organizational planning of the Sonata were taken into account in view of the musical events characteristic of each section. Theories of rhythmic organization supported the analyses of recordings.

Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo investigar empiricamente as decisões interpretativas quanto ao timing e dinâmica de quatro execuções do primeiro movimento da Sonata para piano n.1 de Francisco Mignone. Por meio da comparação de gravações, foram identificadas estratégias expressivas adotadas pelos intérpretes em relação ao timing, dinâmica e articulação, evidenciando assim o direcionamento expressivo do discurso musical em determinados trechos da obra. Tendo em vista os eventos musicais característicos de cada seção da Sonata, foi realizada uma análise da organização rítmica que apoiou a análise das gravações. / This research aimed at empirically investigating the interpretative decisions regarding timing and dynamics of four recorded performances of the first movement of Sonata n.1 for piano by Francisco Mignone. The comparison identified the expressive strategies adopted by the chosen interpreters in relation to articulation and dynamics thus bringing out the temporal profiles of predetermined spans. Issues such as background and organizational planning of the Sonata were taken into account in view of the musical events characteristic of each section. Theories of rhythmic organization supported the analyses of recordings.