A PERFORMANCE GUIDE TO SELECTED PIANO SOLO WORKS OF LISAN WANG A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF ARTS BY TAO HE DISSERTATION ADVISORS: DR. BRETT CLEMENT DR. JAMES HELTON BALL STATE UNIVERSITY MUNCIE, INDIANA DECEMBER 2020 Acknowledgements As this dissertation finally reaches completion, I wish to express gratitude to those who gave me their unreserved support. First, I would like to thank my mentors: I have received careful guidance from Dr. James Helton, my piano performance instructor. I admire his profound knowledge and rigorous scholarship. Without his help, I would not have been able to achieve my current level of musicianship and knowledge. I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Mei Zhong, my vocal performance professor. She led me into a whole new field, expanded my career, and inspired my potential. I would like to thank Dr. Brett Clement for always providing me help, advice, and insight throughout this entire dissertation process. I want to express gratitude to my family. To my parents and wife, thank you for your dedication, full support, and endurance for undertaking the many years I have spent away from home. I would like to offer the greatest blessing to my adorable son and daughter who are the motivation and spiritual pillar of my hard work! I would like to thank all of my friends who cared for and helped me. My special thanks go to Phillip Michael Blaine for his great assistance and strong support. He is one of my most trustworthy friends. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Abstract .................................................................................................................................................... 1 A Brief Biography of Lisan Wang ........................................................................................................... 2 Significance of This Research .................................................................................................................. 4 Literature Review ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Methodology and Procedures ................................................................................................................. 11 CHAPTER 2 ................................................................................................................................................ 14 Lan Huahua, The Beautiful Girl [蓝花花] ............................................................................................. 14 Background and Description ........................................................................................................... 14 Performance and Practice Guide ..................................................................................................... 16 Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 19 Sonatina [小奏鸣曲] .............................................................................................................................. 20 Background and Description .......................................................................................................... 20 Performance and Practice Guide .................................................................................................... 23 Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 26 Brother and Sister Reclaiming the Wasteland (North of Shaanxi) [兄妹开荒-陕北] ............................ 27 Background and Description ........................................................................................................... 27 Performance and Practice Guide ..................................................................................................... 28 Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 32 Impressions of Paintings by Higashiyama Kaii [组曲：东山魁夷画意] .............................................. 33 Background and Description of Winter Blossoms .......................................................................... 33 Performance and Practice Guide of Winter Blossoms .................................................................... 36 Background and Description of Autumn Dress for the Forest ........................................................ 41 Performance and Practice Guide of Autumn Dress for the Forest .................................................. 42 Background and Description of the Lake ........................................................................................ 43 Performance and Practice Guide of the Lake .................................................................................. 44 Background and Description of the Sound of Waves...................................................................... 45 Performance and Practice Guide of the Sound of Waves ................................................................ 48 Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 53 Other Mountains—Five Preludes and Fugues [他山集—五首前奏曲与赋格] ..................................... 55 Background and Description ........................................................................................................... 55 Performance and Practice Guide ..................................................................................................... 57 Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 72 Essence of Two Poems by He Li [李贺诗意二首] ................................................................................ 73 Background and Description ........................................................................................................... 73 Performance and Practice Guide ..................................................................................................... 78 Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 80 Fantasy Sonata ―Black Soil‖ – Memory of Er-Ren-Zhuan (A Folk Song And Dance Duet) [幻想奏鸣 曲―黑土‖—二人转的回忆] ............................................................................................................ 81 Background and Description ........................................................................................................... 81 Performance and Practice Guide ..................................................................................................... 85 Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 92 Prophets [先知集] .................................................................................................................................. 93 Background and Description ........................................................................................................... 93 Performance and Practice Guide ................................................................................................... 103 Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 106 Three Music Poems [音诗三章] .......................................................................................................... 107 Background and Description ......................................................................................................... 107 Performance and Practice Guide ................................................................................................... 112 Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 113 Red Soil [红土集] ................................................................................................................................ 115 Background and Description ......................................................................................................... 115 Performance and Practice Guide ................................................................................................... 122 Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 124 Poems [诗] ........................................................................................................................................... 125 Background and Description ......................................................................................................... 125 Performance and Practice Guide ................................................................................................... 129 Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 132 Paintings by the Little Brother [小弟的画] .........................................................................................