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The four-hand piano works of Franz Schubert with special reference to his 1828 works
Author
Ngo, Vivien Saw-Hwa
Supervisor
Tan, Eleanor
Stead, Peter
Abstract
This dissertation claims that the four-hand works of Franz Schubert have been comparatively neglected. The claim is based on the realisation that most of the scholarly work on Schubert either pays only cursory mention to this genre of his works or makes no reference to the genre at all. This situation therefore needs to be redressed since Schubert's huge output in this genre as well as the intention with which much of the genre was written seems to point to the fact that the works must have been of importance to him. One cannot truly appreciate Schubert while neglecting a genre on which he placed much value.
The significance of these works is further established through the analyses of his last three four-hand works (arguably the finest of his works in this genre), which, although of different formal structures, seem to indicate that Schubert was intent on developing the cyclic principle.
The method adopted to arrive at the findings for this dissertation is a two-pronged one.
● The first part comprises a study of the historical and sociological factors surrounding these works to provide evidence that these works were of importance to Schubert and the people in his day. This part of the study also determines the factors that have encouraged Schubert's prolific writing within this genre to assist in our understanding of the reasons for this huge output. Schubert's personality and how it affected his four-hand output together with his instinctive flair for writing effectively for piano four-hands will also be discussed.
● The second part presents an analytical study of the last three four-hand works.
The findings show that the four-hand works were of importance to Schubert. In addition, the analyses reveal that Schubert was developing a form which was of considerable significance to composers of the later 19th century. This therefore reinforces the value that can be attributed to the four-hand works. Their neglect also deprives pianists of a form of chamber work that could provide great satisfaction.
The significance of these works is further established through the analyses of his last three four-hand works (arguably the finest of his works in this genre), which, although of different formal structures, seem to indicate that Schubert was intent on developing the cyclic principle.
The method adopted to arrive at the findings for this dissertation is a two-pronged one.
● The first part comprises a study of the historical and sociological factors surrounding these works to provide evidence that these works were of importance to Schubert and the people in his day. This part of the study also determines the factors that have encouraged Schubert's prolific writing within this genre to assist in our understanding of the reasons for this huge output. Schubert's personality and how it affected his four-hand output together with his instinctive flair for writing effectively for piano four-hands will also be discussed.
● The second part presents an analytical study of the last three four-hand works.
The findings show that the four-hand works were of importance to Schubert. In addition, the analyses reveal that Schubert was developing a form which was of considerable significance to composers of the later 19th century. This therefore reinforces the value that can be attributed to the four-hand works. Their neglect also deprives pianists of a form of chamber work that could provide great satisfaction.
Date Issued
1997
Call Number
MT145.S3 Ngo
Date Submitted
1997