Title from accompanying document. / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The purpose of this study was to develop and apply an experimental grading system to sonatas written by American-born composers from 1950 to 1975. Although several authors have addressed the problem of grading or classifying piano music, there are generally no precise criteria provided to substantiate the validity of their systems. The present author discovered some significant and innovative yet generally neglected piano sonatas.The grading system in this research was based on the physiological factors effecting the pianist's development. These factors include: 1) Equality of Fingers (finger independence and mobility); 2) Passage of the Thumb (scales and arpeggios); 3) Double-Note and Polyphonic Playing; 4) Extensions (stretches between the fingers); and 5) Arm Rotation (execution of chords and octaves). In addition, since factors such as retuning of the instrument., polyrhythms, and improvisation can make a moderate or intermediate piece into a difficult one, a Special Problem category was added.Each of the six physiological divisions are assigned a numerical. difficulty level from one to ten. The divisions are then averaged and assigned a final "grade" as follows:Easy 1 (E-1)=1.0-1.9; Easy 2 (E--2)=2.0-2.9; Moderate 1 (M-1)--3.0--3.9; Moderate 2 (M-2)=4.0-4.9; Intermediate 1 (I-1)=5.0--5.9; Intermediate 2 (I-2)=6.0-6.9; Difficult. 1 (D-1)=7.0--7.9; Difficult 2 (D-2)=8.0-8.9; Virtuoso (V)=9.0.Eighty--six sonatas were reviewed and graded. These compositions represent a broad selection of works of various degrees of difficulty. By knowing the student's abilities and needs, the piano instructor may use this study to select sonatas that correspond to the appropriate level of attainment.Of the works reviewed, the majority fall into the Moderate category. This was not an unusual finding in that certain pianistic development is required before being able to play the scores. The grading system differs from previous systems in that it provides criteria for the placement of the works into a difficulty rating based on the physiological factors affecting the pianist's development.

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-128). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

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The importance of Scriabin in the present day is found in his underlying contribution to the direction of the use of the piano in this century. Scriabin's special performance practices at the keyboard are concurrent with those of such musical giants as Debussy, Rachmaninov and Schoenberg.It appears that one must evaluate not only the piano sonatas but all of Scriabin's works in a new light because in the face of present day multi-media they become experimental works. The piano sonatas in particular are advanced technical works experimenting with "color" and special effects derived from a conventional instrument. With proper performance and understanding, Scriabin's works become unique, not because of outstanding compositional achievement, but because of the beginning of a new concept in the synthesis of the arts. Also, Scriabin's harmonic innovations developed a system of tonality incorporating a new chord construction and concept of sound at the keyboard, so characteristic of the composer that they came to be labeled as the inimitable "Scriabin style."In the last decade, music scholars have finally begun to place Scriabin in a perspective of our modern music and have found him to be a "progenitor" of our present combination of psychedelic color effects with music as well as music's interrelation with mystic-religious influences. / School of Music

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Maryland, College Park, 2007. / Compact discs. Includes bibliographical references in accompanying material.

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

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

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.