Iowa Research Online

Title

Tempo and rhythmical principles al rigore and flessibile in selected works by Nikolai Medtner: a study and recording

Author

Aleksandr Ponomarchuk, University of IowaFollow

DOI

10.17077/etd.412riknz

Document Type

Dissertation

Date of Degree

Summer 2018

Degree Name

DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts)

Degree In

Music

First Advisor

Uriel Tsachor

First Committee Member

Alan Huckleberry

Second Committee Member

Réne Lecuona

Third Committee Member

Elizabeth Oakes

Fourth Committee Member

Nathan Platte

Abstract

Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951) was a Russian composer, pianist, and piano teacher. His musical output consists of 61 opuses, most of which are compositions for piano. These include 3 piano concerti, 14 piano sonatas, 38 Tales, the 3 cycles of Forgotten Melodies and many other works.

In recent years, interest in Medtner has surged. International festivals, conferences, and competitions dedicated to Medtner have taken place in Europe and Russia, with scholars and performers devoting greater attention to his work. All of Medtner’s piano works are now available on CD. However, the interpretation of Medtner’s works and the implementation of his tempo-rhythmical concepts fil rouge, al-rigore, and flessibile are not fully studied and remain a gray area in performance practice. The importance of tempo and rhythm in the interpretation of Medtner’s music is evident from his own recordings, published editions of his compositions, his book Daily Work of the Pianist and Composer, and his teaching instructions, as documented by students like Edna Iles.

This project aims to produce a recording, that reflects Medtner’s vision of tempo and rhythm in his selected pieces. This includes compositions, previously recorded by the composer: Tales op. 20 no. 1 and no. 2 Campanella, Tales op. 34 no. 2, and no. 3, and Improvisation, op. 31 no. 1, and works, not recorded by him: Second Improvisation, op. 47, Marche Funebre, op. 31 no. 2, and Conte, op. 31 no. 3.

Pages

viii, 63 pages

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 61-63).

Comments

Audio files:

• 01 Two Tales, Op. 20, No. 1, Tale in B flat Minor DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/0E8W-5694
• 02 Two Tales, Op. 20, No. 2, Tale in B Minor, Campanella DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/9ew6-cm04
• 03 Three Pieces, Op. 31, No. 1, Improvisation DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/4cdd-q659
• 04 Three Pieces, Op. 31, No. 2, Marche Funebre DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/edsy-yc21
• 05 Three Pieces, Op. 31, No. 3, Conte DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/thts-ag77
• 06 Four Tales, Op. 34, No. 2, Tale in E Minor DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/c8z8-g614
• 07 Four Tales, Op. 34, No. 3, Tale in A Minor, Wood Goblin DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/5svd-zh77
• 08 Second Improvisation, Op. 47, “Theme: Song of the Water Nymph” DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/s0fb-7059
• 09 Second Improvisation, Op. 47, Variation I, “Meditation" DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/6jsj-tg65
• 10 Second Improvisation, Op. 47, Variation II, “Caprice” DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/pq5e-tp09
• 11 Second Improvisation, Op. 47, Variation III, “Winged Dancers” DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/nyx0-na77
• 12 Second Improvisation, Op. 47, Variation IV, “Charms” DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/fb8b-5682
• 13 Second Improvisation, Op. 47, Variations V-VIII: “Humoresque,” “Mid the Waves,” “The Noise of the Crowd,” “In the Forest” DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/a0mh-sr86
• 14 Second Improvisation, Op. 47, Variation IX, “Wood Goblin” DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/rvwg-6816
• 15 Second Improvisation, Op. 47, Variation X-XII: “Elves,” “Gnomes,” “Incantation” DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/yapv-c319
• 16 Second Improvisation, Op. 47, Variation XIII, “Threat” DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/31w3-pc43
• 17 Second Improvisation, Op. 47, Variations XIV-XV: “Song of the Water Nymph,” “Stormy Weather,” and “Conclusion” DOI: https://doi.org/10.25820/dkvg-w474

Copyright

Copyright © 2018 Aleksandr Ponomarchuk

Recommended Citation

Ponomarchuk, Aleksandr. "Tempo and rhythmical principles al rigore and flessibile in selected works by Nikolai Medtner: a study and recording." DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) thesis, University of Iowa, 2018.
https://doi.org/10.17077/etd.412riknz