Great Solo Piano Works

Series: Great Courses

4.7

(52)

Episodes

Rating

TVPG

Year

2013

Language

English

Publisher

The Great Courses

About

The piano has inspired many of the greatest compositional works in the Western concert repertoire: extraordinary pieces celebrated for their compositional mastery, emotional impact, and their creative use of the instrument. In addition to learning about these masterworks, watch as three dynamic concert pianists perform live in our studio. This course is one you'll want to hear again and again.

Related Subjects

Episodes

1. Piano Starts Here!

45m

Begin by reflecting on the life of the concert pianist and the extraordinary rigors and demands of this unique profession within the music world. Then trace the history of the harpsichord, the piano's predecessor, and how the piano evolved from its beginnings in 1700 into the modern concert instrument.

2. J. S. Bach-The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book One

45m

Learn about the aesthetic of the High Baroque, with its duality of exuberant expression and intellectual control. Define the highly controlled fugue as a "polyphonic" musical form, and the free-form prelude that precedes each fugue in Bach's scheme. Then explore the "well tempered" tuning system and Bach's use of musical genres in his preludes and fugues.

3. J. S. Bach-Goldberg Variations

45m

Trace the roots of this masterpiece and the circumstances of its creation. Penetrate its complexity by digging into its "concentric" structure to discover the remarkable "trinities" and how they serve the larger unity and spiritual meaning of the set.

4. Mozart-Piano Sonata in C Minor, K. 457

45m

Mozart single-handedly enlarged the scale, virtuosity, and importance of the piano sonata. Track Mozart's rise as a keyboard prodigy and his transition from the harpsichord to writing music specifically for the piano. Through the great C Minor Sonata, grasp his lyric, operatic use of the piano that looks toward the music of the 19th and 20th centuries.

5. Beethoven-The Appassionata Sonata

45m

First, learn how Beethoven's relationship with the organ led to the orchestral power and sonority of his piano works. Also trace how the Appassionata grew from the composer's psychological self-reinvention following his tragic hearing loss.

6. Beethoven-Diabelli Variations, Op. 120

45m

Arguably the greatest of all works for solo piano, these glorious variations were written on an invitation from composer Anton Diabelli. Grasp the extraordinary ways in which Beethoven varies the theme, using allusion, humor, and parody.

7. Schubert-Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat Major

45m

Among relevant details of the composer's life, learn about Schubert's tragic struggle with ill health, Beethoven's influence as a role model, and the importance of song in the character of Schubert's music. In the beloved B-flat Major Sonata, delineate the three ravishing thematic melodies that compose the first movement.

8. Chopin-Préludes, Op. 28

45m

As context for studying the music of Chopin, delve into the aesthetics of 19th-century Romanticism, its emphasis on self-expression, and its model of the artist-hero. Discover the lyric intimacy, harmonic ingenuity, and expressive nuance of these exquisite miniatures, as each prelude evokes a single emotional environment.

9. Chopin-Ballade in G Minor, Op. 23

45m

Chopin's music for the piano was directly impacted by the evolution of the instrument itself. First, study two innovations in piano design that produced more resonant pianos. Then, take apart the musical architecture of the G Minor Ballade to see how Chopin creates a dramatic poem with an emotional narrative that builds to an apotheosis-like conclusion.

10. Schumann-Kreisleriana

45m

Trace the origins of this landmark of Romanticism in Schumann's fascination with the novels of E.T.A. Hoffman. In the eight extraordinary movements of Kreisleriana, consider how Schumann writes a spiritual diary in sound, using expressive thematic melodies and harmonic complexity to reveal rich metaphoric meaning and his own innermost feelings and fears.

Extended Details

SeriesGreat Courses

Closed CaptionsEnglish