Degree
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
Department
College of Music and Dramatic Arts
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
The compositions of Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951) have received increasing attention in both performance and scholarship. This monograph explores the influence of the Beethoven tradition in Medtner’s piano sonatas with a focus on performance and pedagogy. An examination of Medtner’s biography contextualizes Medtner’s training in composition and performance, as well as philosophical and personal influences. Next, the study examines Medtner’s writings on Beethoven as well as current scholarship on the piano sonatas of the two composers, observing influences in overall formal and stylistic characteristics. Exploring performance and pedagogy, the study considers examples from Medtner’s recordings of his Sonata Tragica, Op. 39, No. 5 and Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 57. Finally, the study proposes integration of Medtner’s sonatas within the standard pedagogical and performance context alongside the works of Beethoven, using Medtner’s own practice as a model.
Date
10-27-2023
Recommended Citation
Gurt, Jamie E., "Nikolai Medtner and the Beethoven Tradition in Performance and Pedagogy" (2023). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 6283.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/6283
Committee Chair
Delony, Willis