Toward an understanding of Sergei Prokofiev's Visions fugitives, opus 22

Typescript (Photocopy) --- Thesis (M.A.)--University of Rochester, 1987.Visions Fugitives is a work that is becoming increasingly known. The cycle is regularly performed at piano recitals, either In its entirety or in part, and various selections from it are currently found in anthologies and publications for piano students. Clearly, the music has found its place in the standard repertoire. It is no surprise that the music is popular with pianists, since the cycle is quite imaginative and very well suited to the instrument. What is surprising is that to date a published analysis of the pieces does not exist. Indeed, even the historical facts concerning Prokofiev's early activities are not well known, as his early music is frequently overshadowed by that of his predecessors and contemporaries. Thus a brief historical survey of the circumstances surrounding Prokofiev and the writing of Op. 22 is appropriate, especially since a number of new publications in Russian music history and theory have emerged recently. By looking at his personal history, including his musical preferences and the influence of his teachers, we hope to shed some light on his compositional goals at the time of the writing of Op. 22. We will begin with an examination of the musical forces present at the composer's birth in order to view his background in the proper historical context