The Piano Concerto represents an experiment in form in which a set of five
continuous variations are partitioned into three movements, corresponding to the
listener's expectations of a traditional tripartite concerto. Through the analysis of
phrase structure, pitch and motivic variation, links amongst the variations are
uncovered and developmental strategies discussed in an attempt to clarify the
processes of musical creation. By proceeding in analysis from the highest levels of
organization downwards, structural trends emerge which lend consistency to the
work— low level patterns often reflect larger structural forces. In addition, a variety of
symmetrical constructs are extant in the form of consistently used pitch collections
(e.g., [0 1 4 9], a triad with both M3 and m3, subset of [0 1 4 5 8]), phrase organization
(as in the second variation and the second movement) and the grouping of the
variations themselves.
Seeded initially as a recorded improvisation by the composer (which became the
Aria), the Concerto displays formal tension as areas of rigid organization (Variations 1,
3, and 5) alternate with more freely organized regions (Variations 2 and 4), a dichotomy
which springs from the Theme itself. The listener is taken on a linear journey through
the telescoping development of material which maintains more or less explicit
connections to the Theme throughout In general, the further into the work the listener
progresses, the less literal the Thematic references become until a brief recapitulation
appears at the end.
The aesthetic which drives this work is based on a fundamental adherence to
traditional procedures, tempered with unique approaches to form. This aesthetic and
certain cohabiting non-traditional aspects of the Concerto will be discussed in the
analysis that follows.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/8661 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Howard, Christopher Eugene |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Relation | UBC Retrospective Theses Digitization Project [http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/retro_theses/] |
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