Fantasy and Transformation: A Summary of Dissertation Recitals

Three dissertation recitals were performed in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts (Music: Piano Performance) at the University of Michigan. The composers presented on the three programs explored the depths of their creative imagination, producing works of sublime creativity and inspiration. The first recital included Franz Schubert's Wanderer Fantasie, Op. 15, a work based on his song by the same title; Lili Boulanger's Trois Morceaux, a set of miniature tableaux illustrating the brilliant imagination of a young composer; and Robert Schumann's Fantasiestücke, Op. 12, an example of programmatic music born out of his love of literature. The performance took place in Britton Recital Hall on December 10, 2017. The lecture recital consisted of selections from Olivier Messiaen's Vingt regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus. Messiaen's compositional language was discussed along with various compositional techniques and innovations. The lecture also included excerpts from an interview with French pianist, Michel Béroff, who worked on the piece with Messiaen and was one of the first pianists to perform the complete work. Following the lecture portion of the program was a performance of the following movements: I. Regard du Père, X. Regard de l'Esprit de joie, XI. Première communion de la Vierge, and XV. Le baiser de l'Enfant-Jesus. The lecture recital took place in Stamps Auditorium on January 27, 2018. The third dissertation recital included the theme of fantasy with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Fantasy in C minor, K. 475; an example of Mozart's skillfulness as an improviser; Frédéric Chopin's Barcarolle; Alexander Scriabin's Piano Sonata no. 4, a work representative of his new tendencies towards musical mysticism; and Johannes Brahms' 7 Fantasies, Op. 116. The final recital took place in Stamps Auditorium on March 29, 2018.AMUMusic: PerformanceUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146008/1/natakaz_1.pd