Great Piano Works Explained - Catherine Kautsky

Category: Lecture
Language: English
Keywords: Music The Great Courses

Written by Catherine Kautsky
Read by Catherine Kautsky
Format: M4B
Bitrate: 32 Kbps

The glorious repertoire for solo piano includes many of classical music’s most beloved masterpieces. In these 24 musically rich lectures, you’ll dig deeply into this magnificent tradition, in an in-depth exploration of the art of listening. With Professor Kautsky’s inspired guidance and expert playing, you’ll highlight key works of each composer, and unpack their structure, the musical materials that drive them, and the specific features that affect listeners so strongly, giving you a clear grounding in how to approach and hear this great music.

Within a rich spectrum of piano masterpieces, you’ll explore:

· Mozart’s Sonata in C Minor, K. 457—Hear the influence of opera in this tempestuous sonata, where Mozart transports the listener from joy to sorrow and back again in an ever-changing kaleidoscope of emotions.

· Beethoven’s Sonata Opus 110—In this monumental musical journey, study the majestic first movement, the dramatic Allegro molto, and the Arioso and great fugue that ends the sonata in triumphant affirmation.

· Schumann’s Kreisleriana, Papillons, and Carnaval—Delight in Schumann’s resplendent piano “cycles,” anthology-like works revealing multiple musical “characters” and sonic landscapes.

· Chopin’s Ballade in F Minor—Grasp how Chopin delivers a seemingly epic musical narrative within 12 minutes, moving from lyric tenderness to a passionate, thunderous denouement.

· Debussy’s Claire de Lune and Preludes—Grasp the compositional means behind the beloved, ethereal Claire de Lune, and taste the exoticism, humor, and flights of fancy of Debussy’s incandescent Preludes.

· Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata—Hear how this American innovator incorporates unconventional harmonies, dense textures, and multiple musical quotations in a massive, sprawling artistic statement.

In Great Piano Works Explained, you’ll study masterpieces from a wide selection of the great composers, deepening your skill in hearing and appreciating these timeless creations of the human spirit.

Disclaimer: Please note that this recording may include references to supplemental texts or print references that are not essential to the program and not supplied with your purchase.