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

This dissertation is a study of Liszt's formative years in Paris, with a particular focus on three of his mentors: the priest Félicité Lamennais, the poet-statesman Alphonse de Lamartine, and the musician and mystic Chrétien Urhan. Of all the important figures Liszt encountered during this period, Lamennais, Lamartine and Urhan stand apart in their pursuit of a prophetic mission, whether in religion, politics, art, or a combination thereof. I contend that their influence--more than any other--shaped Liszt's fundamental identity as a liberal Catholic artist, dedicated to social and artistic progress driven by faith. I begin with an introductory chapter on important developments in Paris before and during Liszt's time in the city. The instability of the French Revolution resulted in a dynamic society in which new political, religious, and artistic movements could form and interact. Republican values continued to seek a foothold in the oppressive climates of the Restoration and July monarchies. Similarly, the Church--reinstated by Napoleon but still greatly diminished in power--struggled for relevance in an increasingly indifferent society, leading many Catholics to embrace liberal causes. Finally, the emergence of a new generation of Romantic artists dedicated to leading society forward emerged as an unexpected legacy of the Enlightenment. Each of the three central chapters of this dissertation focuses on one of the figures listed above, and on their impact on Liszt's life and music. Lamennais' radical political and religious message encouraged Liszt to express similar views in word and in music. Lamartine's innovative religious poetry prompted Liszt to seek an equivalent in music. Finally, Urhan's seamless merging of sacred and secular music inspired Liszt to adopt a similar approach in his own compositions. In the final chapter, I trace the continued impact of these figures in Liszt's life and work. Ultimately, I argue that the groundwork for Liszt's most celebrated artistic innovations had already been laid in the early 1830s, and that many of his later works are only comprehensible within the framework of the political, religious, and artistic education he received in his youth.

Franz Liszt, who was the greatest virtuoso pianist in the nineteenth-century, was also a productive composer. But his tremendous technique brought the misunderstanding that his compositions were just flashy and superficial, thus creating an obstacle for appreciating his music. The purpose of this study is to encourage an understanding of the value of Liszt's music, especially his Schubert Lieder transcriptions. The study starts with an introduction, which states the revival of the art of transcription, gives the muscial background of Liszt and describes the instruments that were available to him. Then follows a discussion about his experimentation with the conventional piano techniques and how he applied them to the song transcriptions. Two transcriptions "Hark, Hark, the Lark" and "Der Lindenbaum" are analyzed in detail to show the transcriptive procedure and the relation between the poetry and the musical expression. A conclusion summarizes the study.

"Liszt's music, unlike that of Mozart, projects the man. With rare immediacy, it gives away the character of the composer. ... " (Brendel 1986, 3) The purpose of this study is to examine Liszt's song genre from an historical and stylistic standpoint as a reflection of Liszt's ongoing personality and style development. this end the following will be presented: - an overview of Liszt's life circumstances which reflect his personality development - a chronological classification ofLiszt's song genre - the songs viewed historically as a reflection of the man - characteristics in the revisions of the songs which reveal Liszt's ongoing developing style - a study of the development ofLiszt's harmonic and tonal language as agents of colour and textual imagery. Liszt's song oeuvre will be studied in relation to the man himself in order to revtal his motives, his values, the experiences that moved him, and the ways in which he reproduced them in music. / Department of Musicology / M.Mus.

This investigation sought to compare the transcription techniques of two pianist-composers, Godowsky and Liszt, using three Schubert lieder as examples. The lieder were "Das Wandern" from Die Schöne Müllerin, "Gute Nacht" from Winterreise, and "Liebesbotschaft" from Schwanengesang. They were compared using four criteria: tonality, counterpoint, timbral effects, and harmony. Liszt, following a practice common in the nineteenth century, was primarily concerned with bringing new music into the home of the domestic pianist. The piano transcription was the most widely used and successful medium for accomplishing this. Liszt also frequently transcribed pieces of a particular composer in order to promulgate them by featuring them in his recitals. The Schubert lieder fall into this category. Liszt did not drastically alter the original in these compositions. Indeed, in the cases of "Liebesbotschaft" and "Das Wandern," very little alteration beyond the incorporation of the melody into the piano accompaniment, occurs.Godowsky, in contrast, viewed the transcription as a vehicle for composing a new piece. He intended to improve upon the original by adding his own inspiration to it. Godowsky was particularly ingenious in adding counterpoint, often chromatic, to the original. Examples of Godowsky's use of counterpoint can be found in "Das Wandern" and "Gute Nacht." While Liszt strove to remain faithful to Schubert's intentions, Godowsky exercised his ingenuity at will, being only loosely concerned with the texture and atmosphere of the lieder. "Gute Nacht" and "Liebesbotschaft" are two examples that show how far afield Godowsky could stray from the original by the addition of chromatic voicing and counterpoint. Godowsky*s compositions can be viewed as perhaps the final statement on the possibilities of piano writing in the traditional sense. As such these works deserve to be investigated and performed.

Although the opera paraphrase was once a cornerstone of the virtuoso pianist's repertoire, as a genre it has traditionally been neglected by a scholarship which prioritizes authenticity and original compositional thought. By approaching this repertoire from a critical standpoint concerned with the production of narrative, this thesis demonstrates the true value of the paraphrase. A review of the current literature on narrative, gesture, and the paraphrase reveals major gaps in the state of research, and this thesis addresses these issues by presenting analyses of several works, in both printed and performed forms. The chapter “Settling the Score” interrogates the score, and argues that through their choice, ordering, and setting of operatic themes in a paraphrase, composers can alter or recreate the narrative of the source opera. By analyzing and comparing by reading the narrative schemes of seven different paraphrases based on Mozart's Don Giovanni, the chapter highlights the agency of the arranger in the production of narrative. The next chapter, entitled “Playing the Part,” suggests that the creation of narrative also extends beyond the work of the composer to encompass the role of the performer. By comparing the use of physical gestures in two video-recorded performances of Liszt's paraphrase Réminiscences de Don Juan, the thesis postulates that a pianist's gestures can influence the audience's perception of narrative. In an attempt to centralize the voice of the performer, the chapter also includes reflective analysis of the author's own performances of Liszt's paraphrase. By employing analytical methods which focus on the production of musical narrative, this thesis demonstrates that the paraphrase is worthy of greater attention, both in scholarship and performance.

Although the opera paraphrase was once a cornerstone of the virtuoso pianist's repertoire, as a genre it has traditionally been neglected by a scholarship which prioritizes authenticity and original compositional thought. By approaching this repertoire from a critical standpoint concerned with the production of narrative, this thesis demonstrates the true value of the paraphrase. A review of the current literature on narrative, gesture, and the paraphrase reveals major gaps in the state of research, and this thesis addresses these issues by presenting analyses of several works, in both printed and performed forms. The chapter “Settling the Score” interrogates the score, and argues that through their choice, ordering, and setting of operatic themes in a paraphrase, composers can alter or recreate the narrative of the source opera. By analyzing and comparing by reading the narrative schemes of seven different paraphrases based on Mozart's Don Giovanni, the chapter highlights the agency of the arranger in the production of narrative. The next chapter, entitled “Playing the Part,” suggests that the creation of narrative also extends beyond the work of the composer to encompass the role of the performer. By comparing the use of physical gestures in two video-recorded performances of Liszt's paraphrase Réminiscences de Don Juan, the thesis postulates that a pianist's gestures can influence the audience's perception of narrative. In an attempt to centralize the voice of the performer, the chapter also includes reflective analysis of the author's own performances of Liszt's paraphrase. By employing analytical methods which focus on the production of musical narrative, this thesis demonstrates that the paraphrase is worthy of greater attention, both in scholarship and performance.

Although the opera paraphrase was once a cornerstone of the virtuoso pianist's repertoire, as a genre it has traditionally been neglected by a scholarship which prioritizes authenticity and original compositional thought. By approaching this repertoire from a critical standpoint concerned with the production of narrative, this thesis demonstrates the true value of the paraphrase. A review of the current literature on narrative, gesture, and the paraphrase reveals major gaps in the state of research, and this thesis addresses these issues by presenting analyses of several works, in both printed and performed forms. The chapter “Settling the Score” interrogates the score, and argues that through their choice, ordering, and setting of operatic themes in a paraphrase, composers can alter or recreate the narrative of the source opera. By analyzing and comparing by reading the narrative schemes of seven different paraphrases based on Mozart's Don Giovanni, the chapter highlights the agency of the arranger in the production of narrative. The next chapter, entitled “Playing the Part,” suggests that the creation of narrative also extends beyond the work of the composer to encompass the role of the performer. By comparing the use of physical gestures in two video-recorded performances of Liszt's paraphrase Réminiscences de Don Juan, the thesis postulates that a pianist's gestures can influence the audience's perception of narrative. In an attempt to centralize the voice of the performer, the chapter also includes reflective analysis of the author's own performances of Liszt's paraphrase. By employing analytical methods which focus on the production of musical narrative, this thesis demonstrates that the paraphrase is worthy of greater attention, both in scholarship and performance.

"Liszt's music, unlike that of Mozart, projects the man. With rare immediacy, it gives away the character of the composer. ... " (Brendel 1986, 3) The purpose of this study is to examine Liszt's song genre from an historical and stylistic standpoint as a reflection of Liszt's ongoing personality and style development. this end the following will be presented: - an overview of Liszt's life circumstances which reflect his personality development - a chronological classification ofLiszt's song genre - the songs viewed historically as a reflection of the man - characteristics in the revisions of the songs which reveal Liszt's ongoing developing style - a study of the development ofLiszt's harmonic and tonal language as agents of colour and textual imagery. Liszt's song oeuvre will be studied in relation to the man himself in order to revtal his motives, his values, the experiences that moved him, and the ways in which he reproduced them in music. / Department of Musicology / M.Mus.

Although the opera paraphrase was once a cornerstone of the virtuoso pianist's repertoire, as a genre it has traditionally been neglected by a scholarship which prioritizes authenticity and original compositional thought. By approaching this repertoire from a critical standpoint concerned with the production of narrative, this thesis demonstrates the true value of the paraphrase. A review of the current literature on narrative, gesture, and the paraphrase reveals major gaps in the state of research, and this thesis addresses these issues by presenting analyses of several works, in both printed and performed forms. The chapter “Settling the Score” interrogates the score, and argues that through their choice, ordering, and setting of operatic themes in a paraphrase, composers can alter or recreate the narrative of the source opera. By analyzing and comparing by reading the narrative schemes of seven different paraphrases based on Mozart's Don Giovanni, the chapter highlights the agency of the arranger in the production of narrative. The next chapter, entitled “Playing the Part,” suggests that the creation of narrative also extends beyond the work of the composer to encompass the role of the performer. By comparing the use of physical gestures in two video-recorded performances of Liszt's paraphrase Réminiscences de Don Juan, the thesis postulates that a pianist's gestures can influence the audience's perception of narrative. In an attempt to centralize the voice of the performer, the chapter also includes reflective analysis of the author's own performances of Liszt's paraphrase. By employing analytical methods which focus on the production of musical narrative, this thesis demonstrates that the paraphrase is worthy of greater attention, both in scholarship and performance.