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Three American International Piano Competitions: the Piano Works They Commissioned Between 1962 and 2012

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Three American International Piano Competitions: the Piano Works They Commissioned Between 1962 and 2012 ABSTRACT Title of Document: THREE AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITIONS: THE PIANO WORKS THEY COMMISSIONED BETWEEN 1962 AND 2012 Christiana Iheadindu Gandy Doctor of Musical Arts, 2015 Directed By: Professor Bradford Gowen, Division Chair University of Maryland School of Music Over a period of 50 years—between 1962 and 2012—three preeminent American piano competitions, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, the University of Maryland International Piano Competition/William Kapell International Piano Competition and the San Antonio International Piano Competition, commissioned for inclusion on their required performance lists 26 piano works, almost all by American composers. These compositions, works of sufficient artistic depth and technical sophistication to serve as rigorous benchmarks for competition finalists, constitute a unique segment of the contemporary American piano repertoire. Although a limited number of these pieces have found their way into the performance repertoire of concert artists, too many have not been performed since their premières in the final rounds of the competitions for which they were designed. Such should not be the case. Some of the composers in question are innovative titans of 20th-century American music—Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, John Cage, John Corigliano, William Schuman, Joan Tower and Ned Rorem, to name just a few—and many of the pieces themselves, as historical touchstones, deserve careful examination. This study includes, in addition to an introductory overview of the three competitions, a survey of all 26 compositions and an analysis of their expressive characteristics, from the point of view of the performing pianist. Numerous musical examples support the analysis. Biographical information about the composers, along with descriptions of their overall musical styles, place these pieces in historical context. Analytical and technical comprehension of this distinctive and rarely performed corner of the modern classical piano world could be of inestimable value to professional pianists, piano pedagogues and music educators alike. THREE AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITIONS: THE PIANO WORKS THEY COMMISSIONED BETWEEN 1962 AND 2012 Christiana Iheadindu Gandy Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, College Park, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts 2015 Advisory Committee: Professor Bradford Gowen, Chair Professor Mayron Tsong Professor Cleveland Page Professor Donald Manildi Professor Denny Gulick © Copyright by Christiana Iheadindu Gandy 2015 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Prof. Bradford Gowen for his guidance and support throughout the years. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................……v Table of Contents ................................................................................................... vi Figures.................................................................................................................... ix Introduction ..............................................................................................................1 Chapter 1: Descriptions of the Selected International Piano Competitions .............5 Van Cliburn, Pianist .........................................................................................……5 The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition ..................................................7 William Kapell, Pianist ..........................................................................................12 The University of Maryland International Piano Competition/William Kapell International Piano Competition ............................................................................14 The San Antonio International Piano Competition ................................................17 Chapter 2: Commissions by the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition ....20 Lee Hoiby...............................................................................................................20 Capriccio on Five Notes ........................................................................................21 Willard Straight ......................................................................................................25 Structure for Piano ................................................................................................26 Norman Dello Joio .................................................................................................28 Capriccio (on the Interval of a Second) .................................................................30 Aaron Copland .......................................................................................................33 Night Thoughts (Homage to Ives) ..........................................................................35 Samuel Barber ........................................................................................................38 Ballade Op. 46 .......................................................................................................41 Leonard Bernstein ..................................................................................................45 Touches (Chorale, Eight Variations and Coda) ....................................................49 John Corigliano ......................................................................................................62 Fantasia on an Ostinato.........................................................................................64 William Schuman...................................................................................................67 Chester–Variations for Piano ................................................................................69 Morton Gould.........................................................................................................76 Ghost Watzes ..........................................................................................................78 William Bolcom .....................................................................................................85 Nine Bagatelles ......................................................................................................86 Ghost Mazurka .......................................................................................................87 Aimai-je un rêve? ...................................................................................................91 Forgotten Prayers ..................................................................................................92 iii Cycle de l’univers ..................................................................................................93 La belle rouquine ...................................................................................................96 Pegasus ..................................................................................................................97 This Endernight ......................................................................................................99 Recess in Hell .......................................................................................................100 Circus Galop ........................................................................................................102 Chapter 3: Commissions by the University of Maryland International Piano Competition/William Kapell International Piano Competition ...........................104 Lawrence Moss ....................................................................................................104 Ballad ...................................................................................................................107 Vincent Persichetti ...............................................................................................109 Three Toccatinas ..................................................................................................111 George Walker .....................................................................................................115 Bauble ..................................................................................................................117 Mark E.Wilson .....................................................................................................119 Rituals ..................................................................................................................121 John Cage .............................................................................................................123 ASLSP ..................................................................................................................127 George Perle.........................................................................................................128 Sonatina ...............................................................................................................131 Ned Rorem ...........................................................................................................137 Song and Dance ...................................................................................................141 Henri Dutilleux ....................................................................................................143 Les jeu des contraires ..........................................................................................146 Chapter
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