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The Study of Selected Twentieth-Century American Piano Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2006 The study of selected twentieth-century American piano compositions appropriate for use with freshman and sophomore college piano majors: Performance and pedagogical suggestions Li-Jung Lee West Virginia University Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Lee, Li-Jung, "The study of selected twentieth-century American piano compositions appropriate for use with freshman and sophomore college piano majors: Performance and pedagogical suggestions" (2006). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 3457. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/3457 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Study of Selected Twentieth-Century American Piano Compositions Appropriate for Use with Freshman and Sophomore College Piano Majors: Performance and Pedagogical Suggestions Li-Jung Lee A Doctoral Research Project submitted to The College of Creative Arts at West Virginia University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance James Miltenberger, D.M.A., Chair Connie Arrau Sturm, Ph.D. Mary Ferer, Ph.D. William Haller, D.M.A. Bruce Kang, Ph.D. Division of Music Morgantown, West Virginia 2006 Keywords: Twentieth-Century, American Music, Ginastera, Barber, Copland, Piano Performance Copyright 2006 Li-Jung Lee ABSTRACT The Study of Selected Twentieth-Century American Piano Compositions Appropriate for Use with Freshman and Sophomore College Piano Majors: Performance and Pedagogical Suggestions Li-Jung Lee Studying and performing twentieth-century compositions are important for piano students to become well-rounded musicians. This study presents a performance analysis of repertoire from three highly influential American composers: Four Piano Blues (1926- 1948) by Aaron Copland, Excursions Op. 20 (1944) by Samuel Barber and Suite de Danzas Criollas Op. 15 (1946) by Alberto Ginastera. Although these works are not the most technically demanding works by these composers, the nationalistic character of the Argentine and American folk melodies and dances; the popular styles of ragtime, blues and jazz; as well as their incorporation into twentieth-century compositional technique will challenge students in their performance approach. The purpose of this research project is to provide performance and pedagogical suggestions based on stylistic and interpretive analyses. The analyses of these pieces focus on aspects of piano performance, such as the basic technical approach, interpretation suggestions for specific sound production, interpretation of complex meters and jazz rhythms, as well as examinations of pedaling, dynamics, and articulation. Selected aspects of timbre, texture, harmony, melody, rhythm, and form are discussed as they relate to the interpretation and performance of these pieces. It is hoped that this study will help students not only in playing each selected composition, but also in making twentieth-century American music more accessible to interested musicians. There are four chapters in this study. Chapter I provides an introduction for this research. Chapter II is divided into three parts, with each part reviewing scholarly books, theses, dissertations and journal articles related to one of the selected composers. Chapter III offers suggestions and guidelines for performance as well as an investigation of style elements of the selected compositions. Chapter IV presents a summary, conclusions, and recommendations for further research. iii TABLE OF CONTENT ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................. ii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................1 Purpose of the Study ..............................................................................2 Need for the Study .................................................................................2 Definition of Terms ................................................................................3 Limitations of the Research ...................................................................3 Research Design .....................................................................................4 II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE .....................................................5 Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) ..............................................................5 Samuel Barber (1910-1981) .................................................................15 Aaron Copland (1900-1990) ................................................................27 III. SUGGESTIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED TWENTIETH-CENTURY AMERICAN PIANO COMPOSITIONS ......................................................................................46 Alberto Ginastera: Suite de Danzas Criollas, Op. 15 ..........................46 Samuel Barber: Excursions, Op. 20 ....................................................71 Aaron Copland: Four Piano Blues ...................................................111 IV. ����������������������������������������SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH .........................................................................136 Summary ............................................................................................136 Conclusions ........................................................................................145 Recommendations for further research ..............................................148 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................150 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION There is great amount of music written for the piano in the twentieth century, and much of it makes use of new sounds, notations and compositional techniques. For many students, music from this century is quite attractive to hear and interesting to learn. Certainly, all piano students should study and perform twentieth-century compositions in order to become well- rounded musicians. Therefore, piano teachers must be knowledgeable about this music, and should regularly examine unfamiliar pieces with an open mind in a continual effort to expand their teaching repertoire. In Taiwan, familiarizing students not only with music from earlier periods but also with contemporary compositions can be a big challenge. The teaching of twentieth-century music can present a problem for the typical piano teacher if he or she lacks the analytical skills or pianistic techniques necessary for its study and performance. Unfortunately, many Taiwanese teachers and students are unable to approach many twentieth-century compositions with the same confidence they demonstrate toward music of earlier eras. Furthermore, this situation will not improve unless teachers overcome prejudices against music with which they are unfamiliar. The introduction of applied saxophone lessons in several music departments in Taiwan around the turn of the twenty-first century further increases the likelihood that many music students will become involved with jazz and other types of contemporary music. Teachers, therefore, can no longer ignore this type of music if they wish to serve the needs of their students. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this paper is to provide a stylistic overview and performance suggestions for selected piano compositions appropriate for study by collegiate freshman and sophomore piano majors. Detailed discussions focus on interpretations and appropriate pianistic approaches to tone production and pedaling and offer some specific observations on rhythm, articulation, and dynamics. Aspects of timbre, texture, harmony, melody, and form are also discussed as they relate to interpretation and performance. This study also makes recommendations on guiding and controlling physical movement when playing this repertoire. Efficient and appropriate finger action, arm movement, and their coordination can cause difficulties to disappear. The specific repertoire chosen for this study includes Aaron Copland’s Four Piano Blues (1926-1948), Samuel Barber’s Excursions, Op. 20 (1944), and Alberto Ginastera’s Suite de Danzas Criollas, Op. 15 (1946). Copland, Barber, and Ginastera are among the most significant North- and South American composers in the twentieth century. Each has influenced contemporary musical thought and development. Their music represents various styles ranging from traditional classical to contemporary jazz. The compositions chosen are all sets of character pieces, and are all accessible to college freshmen and sophomores at early-advanced levels of ability. Also, since the less-experienced students will often do better on works that combine compositional idioms of this century
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