University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A study of Leo Ornstein’s Piano Sonata No. 5, a biography in sonata form

Wang, Molin

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89700

Description

Title
A study of Leo Ornstein’s Piano Sonata No. 5, a biography in sonata form
Author(s)
Wang, Molin
Issue Date
2016
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Professor William Heiles
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Professor William Heiles
Committee Member(s)
  • Professor Christos Tsitsaros
  • Professor Sever Tipei
  • Dr. Susan Parisi
Department of Study
School of Music
Discipline
Music
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
A.Mus.D. (doctoral)
Keyword(s)
  • Leo
  • Ornstein
  • Molin
  • Wang
  • piano
  • sonata
  • biography
  • form
Language
en
Abstract
This doctoral paper analyzes Leo Ornstein’s Piano Sonata No. 5, A Biography in Sonata Form. It supports a doctoral project recital that featured this composition. Research questions guided the investigation with the aim of elucidating essential compositional and performance aspects of this large-scale piano sonata to facilitate understanding of the music. Chapter I provides background information about Leo Ornstein’s life and a general overview of his musical styles in three distinct periods. The second and third chapters analyze the Piano Sonata No. 5 with attention to its formal structures, and present salient characteristic elements of Ornstein’s music style including melodic content, rhythm, and harmonization. A general comparison is also undertaken with two of Ornstein’s other piano sonatas No. 4 and No. 8. Chapter IV then discusses performance considerations and offers to aid the pianist in the evaluation of problematic passages in Sonata No. 5. Finally, an appendix supplies my transcription of the missing measures 21 to 39 of the second movement from the recording by Michael Sellers who premiered Sonata No. 5 in this study.
Type of Resource
text
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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89700

Owning Collections

Doctoral Project Theses [Option 2] - Music PRIMARY