Kreisleriana : op. 16 /

Mode of access: Internet.

Selected Works from Character Pieces in the 19th - Early 20th Centuries

During the Romantic Era, the character piece flourished and became one of the most important genres. Even though character pieces existed as early as the eighteenth century, it was not until the nineteenth century that Romantic Era literary figures discovered that music was as powerful as any other artistic medium in expressing unspeakable emotions. The character piece allowed composers to express a definite mood, a programmatic idea, or a pictorial association. Character pieces often have titles that suggest briehess or casualness, such as a Beethoven Bagatelle, a Schubert Impromptu or Moment musicaux. Others have expressive programmatic titles, such as Schumann's Kreisleriana and Liszt's Apres une lecture de Dante. Ths dissertation was based on selected works from the nineteenth century and early-twentieth century in order to demonstrate the great variety of musical thought and stylistic development. I have examined composers from different countries and of different nationalities to establish what and how they contributed to the remarkable diversity in this genre. The selected works allowed for very personal programs. These concerts, in addition to being good combinations of pieces, are representative of the genre. The first program consisted of Chopin's Preludes, Op. 28; three pieces from Debussy7s Images Books I and 11; and Liszt7s Apres une lecture de Dante. The second program included seven of Beethoven's Bagatelles, Op. 33; Schumann's Kinderscenen, Op. 15; Poulenc's Mouvements perpetuels and Intermezzo in A-jlat Major; Faure7s Nocturne in B Major, Op. 33, No. 2 and Impromptu No. 2 in F Minor; three of Mompou's Canciones y Danzas; four of Villa-Lobos Prole do bebe Suite No. 1; and Albkniz's Navarra. The third and final program comprised four selections from Rachrnaninoff s Moment musicaux, Op. 16; five pieces from Grieg's Lyric Pieces; and Arensky7s Suite No. 1 for Two Pianos and Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos. I wanted to bring out nuances specific to the individual composers and show how their character pieces helped in shaping the Romantic Era. Even in the twenty-first century, an era of highly specialized musical tastes, the popularity and accessibility of character pieces stand out.

E. T. A. Hoffmann's gesammelte schriften.

1.-4. Die Serapions-brüder. 1. bd. Die fermate. Der dichter und der componist. Ein fragment aus dem leben dreier freunde. Der Artushof. Die bergwerke zu Falun. Nussknacker und mausekönig.--2. bd. Der kampf der sänger. Die automate. Doge und dogaressa. Meister Martin, der küfner, und seine gesellen. Das fremde kind.--3. bd. Die brautwahl. Der unheimliche gast. Das fräulein von Scuderi. Spieler-glück.--4. bd. Signor Formica. Erscheinungen. Der zuszmmenhang der dinge. Die königsbraut.--5. bd. Nachstücke. 1. theil: Der sandmann. Ignaz Denner. Die Jesuiterkirche in G. Das sanctus. 2. theil: Das öde haus. Das majorat. Das gelübde. Das steinerne herz.--6. bd. Die elixiere des teufels.--7. bd. Fantasiestücke in Callot's manier. 1. theil: Vorrede von Jean Paul. Jacques Callot. Ritter Gluck. Kreisleriana, nro. 1-6. Don Juan. Nachricht von den neusten schicksalen des hundes Berganza. 2. theil: Der magnetiseur. Der goldene topf. die abentheuer der Sylvester-nacht. Kreisleriana.--8. bd. Lebensanscihten des katers Murr.--9. bd. Klein Zaches, genannt zinnober. Princessin Brammbilla; ein capriccio nach Jakob Callot.--10. bd. Seltsame leiden eines theater-direktors. Meister Flob.--11.-12. bd. Erzählungen aus Hoffmann's letzten lebensjahren. 11. bd. Die doppeltgänger. Die räuber. Die irrungen. Die geheimnisse. Der elementargeist.--12. bd. Datura fastuosa (Der schöne stechapfel). Meister Iohannes Wacht. Die marquise de la Pivardière. Die vision auf dem schlachtfelde bei Dresden. Haimatochare. Der feind. Neueste schicksale eines abentheuerlichen mannes. Des vetters eckfenster. Die genesung.

Through a Literary Lens: The Effect of Jean Paul and E.T.A. Hoffmann’s Writing Styles on the Compositional Techniques of Robert Schumann

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Washington, 2016-06