Piano Literature : Sonatas and Variations

Lecture IX: Parisian Romanticism

 

Romantic Structural Concepts

Thematic Transformation (Berlioz, Liszt, Wagner)
Overt and Suggested Programmatic Elements
Extreme Chromatic Tension (Liszt)
Physical Endurance and Theatrical Presentation
Themes as Leit-Motives (Wagner)

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849): 3 Sonatas

Sonatas and Sonata Allegros

Sonata in C minor op. 4
Sonata in B-flat minor op. 35 "Marche Funebre "
Sonata in B minor op. 58 Allegro de Concert in A major op. 46

Variation Sets

Variations Brillantes on a Rondo by Halevy op. 12
Variations on a German National Air op. post.

 

Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

Sonatas and Sonata-Structured Works
Annees de Pelerinage II/7: "Apres line Lecture du Dante " (Fantasia quasi Sonata)
Grosses Korzzertsolo in E minor
Wanderer-Fantasy (transcription after Schubert for Piano and Orchestra)

Sonata in B minor (1854)
Introduction

Allegro (m. 32) =        Exposition
Andante (m. 331) =    Development
Fugato (m. 459) =       Stretto
Allegro (m. 533) =      Recapitulation
Prestissimo (m. 682) =Coda

Variation Works
Variation on "Weinen, klagen, sorgen, zagen" by Bach
Grandes Etudes de Paganini No. 3 (La Campamlla), No. 6
Remimscences de "Don Juan " (Variations on "La ci darem la tnano ")
Totentanz. (Solo and Concerto Versions)
Hexameron: Variations on the March from Bellini's "I Puritani"
(Introduction, Variation, Interlude and Finale by Liszt;
Variations by Chopin, Czerny, Herz, Pixis and Thalberg)

Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888)

 

Grande Senate op. 33 "The Four Ages of Man" (1850)

i. 20 ans. Tres vite, decidement.
ii. 30 ans. Quasi-Faust. Assez vite, Sataniquement.
iii. 40 ans. Un Heureux Manage. Lentement, tres lie.
iv. 50 ans. Promethee Enchame. Extremement lent.

Douze Etudes dans les Tons Mineures op. 39 (1857)

Symphonie      iv. Allegro Moderato
                         v. March Funebre
                         vi. Menuet
                         vii. Finale (Presto)
Concerto         viii. Allegro assai
                         ix. Adagio
                         x. Allegro alla Barbaresca
Variations       xii. Le Festin d'Esope

 

Listening List IX

Brahms	Sonata No. 1 in C major op. 1
	Sonata No. 2 in F sharp minor op. 2
	Sonata No. 3 in F minor op. 5
	Variations on an Original Theme op. 21 #l
	Variations on a Hungarian Lied op. 21 #2
	Variations on a Theme of Paganini op. 35, Books 1 and 2
Reger	Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Bach op. 81
	Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Telemann op. 134
Schumann	Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp minor op. 11
	Sonata No. 2 in G minor op. 22
	Variations on the Name "A-B-E-G-G" op.1
	Symphonic Etudes op. 13 (with Posthumous Variations)
	Fantasy in C major op. 17 I.First Mov't II.Second Mov't III.Final Mov't
	Strauss: sonata in B minor op. 5

Later German Romanticism