Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Michigan, 1964. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 244-254).

Thesis--Wisconsin. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-111).

Diss.--Marburg, 1997. / Bibliogr. p. 173-189.

Inaugural Dissertation, Leipzig, 1913. / Bibliography: p. [ix]-xii.

This thesis follows on a number of studies all of which deal with selected schools of composition important in the development of the piano sonata. Muzio Clementi was one of the leading contemporaries of such great masters as Haydn. Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, all of whom contributed greatly to the repertoire of piano sonatas. During his lifetime his reputation equalled that of his contemporaries and many of his sonatas were greatly admired by the young Beethoven. Clementi was born in Rome but spent the largest part of his Ii in London where he established himself as a multi-faceted musician, being engaged in many different fields connected with music: composer, teacher, performer, publisher and manufacturer of pianos. His sonatas form the most important part of his total creative output. While the earli works still follow principles typical of the middle classical period, his later sonatas belong to a different era and foreshadow the coming of romanticism. This thesis is devoted to a detailed survey of the changes that affect the form of the various movements. It shows the gradual change from tile simple compositional methods of the early works to the inherent logical process that characterises the sonatas of the later years The first part of the thesis culminates in findings that prove Clementi IS individuality and show that his enquiring spirit makes him an innovator of the first rank. The second major part of the thesis deals with the stylistic changes that take place within the various periods of Clementiis creative life. It summarises the main ingredients of his early music, critically evaluates the importance of various pianistic devices that play a leading role in works of the middle periods and finally shows the successful blending of inherited and new techniques in the last sonatas. The concluding section details the major points of the preceding investigations and presents a picture of Clementi's personality as it emerges through the medium of his solo keyboard sonatas.

Cette étude porte sur un corpus de toccatas et toccatinas pour piano écrites dans le monde entier de 1781 jusqu’à 1993. Elle a pour objectif de comprendre ce que signifie le terme « toccata » tout au long de l’histoire, quelle sont les diverses caractéristiques du genre à travers les périodes différentes, et quel est le rapport entre la toccata pour piano et l’esthétique de la virtuosité. L’auteur commence par observer l’évolution de la compréhension du terme sous les yeux des savants et des érudits de différentes époques, et une série de toccatas pour orgue et clavecin de Johann Sebastien Bach et d’Alessandro Scarlatti, afin de démontrer les caractéristiques principales du genre avant sa transmutation instrumentale. L’étape suivante consiste en une étude analytique du corpus principal. Elle décrit la transformation de la toccata de type pédagogique en un genre de niveau supérieur à l’exercice par son exigence architecturale et son animation. La toccata se dirige ensuite vers un esthétique extrême et surhumaine au XXe siècle. Par ailleurs, elle reflète la grande diversité des types de virtuosité dans des époques différente : celle créative et improvisatrice du temps de Bach, celle des techniques digitales raffinées de la génération de Clementi, etc. Aujourd’hui, avec une esthétique de virtuosité qui prend de plus en plus en compte l’aspect athlétique, la toccata, souvent accompagnée des techniques pianistiques stimulantes, devient une façon idéale de démontrer les capacités extraordinaires du pianiste, ce qui constitue les raisons de son succès auprès des compositeurs, des pianistes, et des auditeurs. / This study relies on a corpus of piano toccatas and toccatinas written in the world from 1781 to 1993. Its purpose is to understand what the term ‘‘toccata’’ means throughout history, what are the various characteristics of the genre in different periods, and what is the relationship between the toccata for piano and the aesthetics of virtuosity. The author starts by observing the evolution of the understanding of the term by scholars living in different eras, and a series of organ and harpsichord toccatas by Johann Sebastian Bach and Alessandro Scarlatti, in order to demonstrate the principal features of the genre before its instrumental transmutation. The next stage consists of an analytical study of the main corpus which designates the transformation of the toccata from a pedagogical genre to that of a higher level by its architectural requirement and its animation, then to one that moves towards an extreme and superhuman aesthetic in the twentieth century. Finally, the study shows that the toccata represents a diversity of types of virtuosity in different eras: the creative and improvisatory type in Bach’s time, the refined digital techniques of Clementi’s generation, etc. Today, with an aesthetic of virtuosity that increasingly takes into account the athletic aspect, the toccata, often accompanied by stimulating piano techniques, becomes an ideal way of demonstrating the extraordinary abilities of the pianist, which constitutes its success among composers, pianists, and listeners.

No description available.

L'objet de cette thèse est de s'intéresser aux relations entre le compositeur allemand et la Grande-Bretagne. À première vue, cette idée peut paraître surprenante. En effet, Beethoven, compositeur allemand né en 1770, ne foula jamais le sol anglais à l’inverse d’autres compositeurs comme Haydn, Weber et Mendelssohn. Pourtant, ce travail s'efforcera de démontrer qu’une relation véritable s’était établie, qu’elle portait sur de nombreux aspects et qu’elle était mue par un sentiment d'admiration réciproque. En premier lieu, cette thèse s'attachera à définir, d'une part, les origines de l'enthousiasme du compositeur allemand pour la Grande-Bretagne et, d'autre part, les aspects de la culture britannique qui plurent tant au compositeur. Ainsi, la politique, le système parlementaire, la littérature et la musique anglaise furent autant d’éléments sur lesquels Beethoven portait son admiration. Aussi, nous retrouvons le témoignage de cette affection à travers certaines de ses œuvres et inspirations musicales. Ensuite, ce travail de recherche mettra en lumière les mécanismes qui permirent de faire de Beethoven un compositeur célébré dans tout le Royaume-Uni jusqu’à l’ériger en un nouveau héros musical britannique. Par conséquent, ce travail analysera la programmation et la réception des œuvres du compositeur dans tout le royaume et mettra en évidence le rôle du réseau beethovénien à Londres dans la promotion de sa musique. En effet, Beethoven put jouir de l’aide précieuse de deux réseaux : un premier réseau composé d’amis viennois ou étrangers résidant à Londres comme Clementi, Salomon, von Häring, Ries qui le mirent en relation avec un second réseau, composé de Britanniques comme les musiciens Smart, Neate ou l’éditeur Birchall. Ces deux lobbies se retrouvèrent dans l’outil principal de promotion de Beethoven, la Société Philharmonique de Londres, créée en 1813. La thèse démontrera également l'importance des différents aspects contextuels – social, historique et esthétique – favorables à la domination de Beethoven sur la scène musicale britannique. Enfin, ce travail montrera comment la presse fit du compositeur allemand un « citoyen » britannique. Pour terminer, au fil des pages, ce travail tentera de combler une lacune dans les études beethovéniennes, à savoir, l’explication des raisons qui poussèrent Beethoven à abandonner ses projets de visite, pourtant nombreux, en Grande-Bretagne. / The aim of this thesis is to focus on the relationship between the German composer and Great Britain. However, at first glance, this idea may be surprising. Indeed, Beethoven, born in 1770 in Germany never went to Britain unlike other composers such as Haydn, Weber and Mendelssohn. Nevertheless, this study will attempt to show that a true relationship was established, based on numerous aspects and on a reciprocal feeling of admiration. Firstly, this thesis will try to find the origins of the German composer’s enthusiasm for Britain and it will then define the different cultural aspects that were so dear to Beethoven. Thus, literature, music and politics emerge as the different aspects of British culture which the musician admired the most. As a result, it is possible to find tokens of his fascination for Britain through his works. In the same way, this research work will describe the mechanisms which contributed to make Beethoven a celebrated composer in the United Kingdom who, gradually, became the new British musical hero. Thus, this thesis will analyse the concert programmes and reception of Beethoven’s works and it will shed new light on the importance of networks which promoted the composer within the British musical scene. Indeed, Beethoven benefited from the valuable help of two networks: the first was composed of Viennese or foreign friends living in London like Clementi, Salomon, von Häring or Ries, who put him in contact with a second network, a British one with English musicians like Sir George Smart, Charles Neate or publishers like Robert Birchall. Finally, these two lobbies merged together into one of the key elements promoting Beethoven’s music, The Philharmonic Society, created in 1813. This study will also show the importance of the social, musical and esthetical factors which favoured Beethoven’s domination of the British musical scene. It will show how the British press elevated Beethoven to the rank of “British” citizen especially during his agony. Finally, in Beethoven studies, there is a major gap to fill in: the reasons why Beethoven abandoned the different projects of visiting England.

Muzio Clementi's symphonies were first performed in London between 1786 and 1796. After an extended hiatus from 1796 to 1813, his symphonic works appeared on programs again from 1813 to 1824. Clementi's career as a symphonist corresponds closely with trends in London's concert life. The reception of Clementi's symphonies during his lifetime has frequently been misinterpreted by scholars who oversimplify the use of "science" in musical discourse of the day and fail to consider the positive connotations of this adjective, so frequently applied to Clementi. Musical discourse at the time addressed the science and art of music emphasizing a composition, or its composer's, science, harmony, effects, genius, and the audience's response. Though an unstated ideal, reviews evince a preference for balancing scientific and artistic display. Reviews of Clementi's symphonies suggest he initially struggled to balance the technical and artistic qualities of his compositions but succeeded, according to reviews, in finally doing so in 1796. After his early efforts, Clementi was consistently praised as worthy to stand among the current and most prestigious composers of the continent: Haydn and Mozart initially, and Beethoven and Rossini later.