Book Description

Despite achieving success in other genres, several twentieth-century American composers have piano works that have not yet entered the standard repertory. The main purpose of this DMA Document is to advocate for seven modern American piano works and to encourage musicians—especially pianists—to pay more attention to lesser-known music of American composers in the twentieth century in programming their recitals and concerts. This document examines seven piano compositions for solo piano and two pianos. The piano solo pieces are: Five 2-Part Invention by Virgil Thomson; Four Pieces for Piano by John Verrall; Three Piano Pieces, Op. 23 by Ben Weber; Capriccio on Five Notes by Lee Hoiby; and Three Epigrams by Robert Palmer. The pieces for two pianos with four hands are: Hard Times and Carnival by Isadore Freed and The Fringes of a Ball by Robert Starter. These works were all composed during the mid-twentieth century. I write this document also through my own analyses, a recorded performance, and a (teaching) performance guideline of Lee Hoiby’s Capriccio on Five Notes. The seven American composers both embraced tradition and sought innovation. Their music existed in a space between the “inside” and the “outside.” In Chapter 1, I trace the development of music in the United States in the twentieth century. In Chapter 2, I discuss the topics of “American Music,” “American Mavericks,” and “American Pragmatism,” and briefly outline the biographies of some iconic American composers. Chapter 3 presents the biographies of the seven American composers and analyses of the chosen piano works. I analyze the tonality, harmony, dynamics, structure, and style of these seven American piano pieces, in order to examine their status between the “inside” and the “outside.” Chapter 4 is a performance guide for Lee Hoiby’s Capriccio on Five Notes from a pianist’s perspective. Chapter 5 elaborates on the conclusion that these piano works exist between the “inside” and the “outside,” and extols the benefits of programming American modern music.