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An Orchestral Approach to Johannes Brahms' "Variationen und Fuge über ein Thema von Händel," Op. 24: Orchestral Transcription as an Interpretive Tool

This dissertation provides an interpretive guide to Variationen und Fuge über ein Thema von Händel, Op. 24, written in 1861 by Johannes Brahms (1833–1897), in orchestral terms, using as basis the orchestral transcription by Edmund Rubbra (1901–1986), published as his Op. 47 in 1938. Not only does Brahms' Variationen present players with considerable pianistic difficulties, its intense harmonic and polyphonic structures make the music sound symphonic. The English composer Edmund Rubbra, a great Brahms enthusiast, transcribed the work for orchestra. The transcription in effect represents Rubbra's interpretation of the piano work as well as his respect for it. When both orchestra and piano versions of a composition exist, pianists may obtain essential musical ideas from studying the orchestral version, just as it is advisable for conductors to study the piano versions of symphonic works, not only those arranged by the composer. Brahms himself was not only a composer but also a pianist and conductor. It is possible that he imagined orchestral sound when composing large-scale piano works such as his Variationen. New experiments in interpretation can offer a refreshing perspective. This study focuses on elements from Rubbra's orchestral version of Variationen that can inform pianists' interpretation.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc1752377
Date12 1900
CreatorsYun, Hee Sun
ContributorsWodnicki, Adam, Couturiaux, Clay, Banowetz, Joseph
PublisherUniversity of North Texas
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatvi, 50 pages : illustrations, music, Text
RightsPublic, Yun, Hee Sun, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights Reserved.
RelationRecital: March 17, 2012, ark:/67531/metadc171502, Recital: June 21, 2013, ark:/67531/metadc848691, Recital: November 24, 2014, ark:/67531/metadc490001, Lecture recital: October 12, 2020, ark:/67531/metadc1811176

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