City Research Online

Haptic influences on Chopin pianism: case studies from the music of Szymanowska and Kessler

Negishi, Yuki (2018). Haptic influences on Chopin pianism: case studies from the music of Szymanowska and Kessler. (Unpublished Masters thesis, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance)

Abstract

What makes Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849), one of the most revered and loved composers in the piano repertoire, and is he truly a unique figure? This question has driven me for most of my musical life, resulting in my current research. This project emerged from my fascination with the wealth of forgotten composers and their music, which seemed all so familiar - was Chopin influenced by them to a degree that was never documented or questioned before? While Szymanowska’s influence has been noted before, the haptic considerations that led this process of influence have not been investigated. Using my experience as a pianist, I approached this question through a haptic lens. This thesis is divided into an Introduction, which addresses my motivation, Chapter 1, which refers to the historiographical and musical background of Chopin’s formative years, the practice-as research approach to the methodology, and the literature review. Chapter 2 focuses primarily on two composers: Maria Agata Szymanowska (1789–1831) and Joseph Christoph Kessler (1800-1871). I compare their preludes and etudes, through a haptic perspective, with the preludes and etudes of Chopin. The influence of Szymanowska and Kessler on Chopin is demonstrated, through the presence of clearly identifiable haptic characteristics. The musical examples are integrated with video clips that demonstrate the haptic connections, in each case, at the piano. The last section of the thesis discusses my reflection and conclusion that Chopin was indeed influenced by these composers, especially through the haptic process. Although Chopin later developed his style beyond the formative influence of Kessler and Syzmanowska, I believe his music, and his approach to piano writing, owes a substantial debt to these two lesser-known composers, and that this connection can only be truly identified through the investigation of haptic considerations.

Publication Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: M Music and Books on Music > M Music
Departments: Doctoral Theses
[thumbnail of Negishi, Yuki - MPhil - 2018.pdf]
Preview
Text - Accepted Version
Download (4MB) | Preview
[thumbnail of Inroduction] Video (Inroduction) - Supplemental Material
Download (177MB)
[thumbnail of Index finger pivot playing] Video (Index finger pivot playing) - Supplemental Material
Download (193MB)
[thumbnail of Index finger pivot - Birds eye view] Video (Index finger pivot - Birds eye view) - Supplemental Material
Download (53MB)
[thumbnail of Double notes] Video (Double notes) - Supplemental Material
Download (107MB)
[thumbnail of Slides] Video (Slides) - Supplemental Material
Download (109MB)
[thumbnail of Wrist breathing intro] Video (Wrist breathing intro) - Supplemental Material
Download (46MB)
[thumbnail of Wrist breathing playing] Video (Wrist breathing playing) - Supplemental Material
Download (89MB)
[thumbnail of Wrist breathing - Birds eye view] Video (Wrist breathing - Birds eye view) - Supplemental Material
Download (53MB)
[thumbnail of Two against Three playing] Video (Two against Three playing) - Supplemental Material
Download (89MB)
[thumbnail of Two against Three - Birds eye view] Video (Two against Three - Birds eye view) - Supplemental Material
Download (71MB)
[thumbnail of Leaps playing] Video (Leaps playing) - Supplemental Material
Download (98MB)
[thumbnail of Leaps talk] Video (Leaps talk) - Supplemental Material
Download (34MB)
[thumbnail of Leaps - Birds eye view] Video (Leaps - Birds eye view) - Supplemental Material
Download (58MB)
[thumbnail of F major Etudes playing] Video (F major Etudes playing) - Supplemental Material
Download (126MB)
[thumbnail of F major Etudes - Birds eye view] Video (F major Etudes - Birds eye view) - Supplemental Material
Download (83MB)
[thumbnail of Nocturnes talk] Video (Nocturnes talk) - Supplemental Material
Download (61MB)
[thumbnail of Nocturnes playing] Video (Nocturnes playing) - Supplemental Material
Download (110MB)
[thumbnail of Nocturnes - Birds eye view] Video (Nocturnes - Birds eye view) - Supplemental Material
Download (177MB)

Export

Add to AnyAdd to TwitterAdd to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to PinterestAdd to Email

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

Actions (login required)

Admin Login Admin Login