The study of artistic and stylistic continuities in solo piano music from the 17th century to the early 20th century

What about music decides whether it will fade from memory or still be taught today? The requirements are undefined. Perhaps the composer plays a part, or the function of the music itself is important enough to ensure its longevity. The evolution of the keyboard, from harpsichord to modern day piano, is a large factor, with the piano creating new compositional and performance opportunities that had not been possible before. New genres emerged specifically for that instrument, but still drew from past genres that had maintained their popularity. Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Fryderyk Chopin, and Claude Debussy were all great composers, each representing a different time period in the music: Baroque (1600- 1750), Classical (1750-1830), Romantic (1830-1900), and modern (Twentieth Century and beyond). Bach created a strong musical and compositional foundation for keyboard music, and his influence can be traced through the music of the composers who would follow, including Beethoven, Chopin, and Debussy. I have chosen these particular composers to study based on the repertoire I will perform on my senior recital, in hopes of creating a clearer picture on what defines musical continuity and how it changes over time