Three Dissertation Recitals: the German Romanticism in Instrumental Music and the Baroque Instrumental Genres

Abstract

This dissertation includes the programs and program notes of my three dissertation recitals, which were performed in lieu of a written dissertation. The first recital Beyond Words, performed on December 12, 2017 in Britton Recital Hall, embraced a program of nineteenth century German music; it focused on the historical background of German Romanticism and the instrumental music inspired by German Romantic literature. The program was comprised of the Violin Sonata in G Major Op. 78 by Johannes Brahms, Violin Sonata in G Major Op. 96 by Ludwig van Beethoven, and four pieces from Lieder ohne Worte by Felix Mendelssohn, arranged for violin and piano by Friedrich Hermann; performed with pianist Hyejin Cho.

The second recital The Baroque Violin Sonatas, performed on February 10, 2018 in Britton Recital Hall, explored the origins and development of the sonata genre. The program was comprised of three solo violin works: Sonata in G Minor, BWV 1001, by J. S. Bach, Sonata in A Minor by Johann Georg Pisendel, and the Instrumental piece in C Major by Francesco Geminiani; as well as the Duo for two Violin in Eb Major by Pietro Nardini, performed with violinist Christina Adams, and two sonatas with continuo, performed with Prof. Joseph Gascho: Sonata in E Minor, BWV 1023, by J. S. Bach and Sonata in C Major, Op. 9 No. 9, by Jean-Marie Leclair.

The third recital The Baroque Dances, Fugue, and Concerto, performed on April 25, 2018 in Britton Recital Hall, was comprised of Partita No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1002, the Violin Concerto in E Major, BWV 1042, and the Ciaccona from the Partita for Solo Violin in D Minor, BWV 1004, by J. S. Bach; the Fugue for Solo Violin in E Minor, Op. 10 No. 6 by Bartolomeo Campagnoli, and the Passacaglia in G Minor for Solo Violin, by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber. The orchestra part of the concerto was performed by Bram Margoles (first violin), Nathaniel Cornell (second violin), Joachim Angster (viola), and Victor Huls (cello). In order to produce the most suitable sound for the repertoire and to explore richer colors with the modern instruments, the second and third recitals were performed with gut strings and a baroque bow.