Page:A Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol 2.djvu/742

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PIANOFORTE MUSIC.

and allegro brillant, op. 92. Two sonatas, preludes, études, etc. were published after his death. The great beauty, plastic roundness and never-failing euphony of Mendelssohn's pianoforte works obtained for them universal recognition; indeed some of them, especially the Songs without Words (Books 1–6) are true household pieces. In his scherzos, Mendelssohn is unrivalled; indeed all his works are marked with a strong individuality which many of his followers tried in vain to imitate. Frédéric François Chopin[1] (1809–1849) composed 2 concertos, variations on 'Là ci darem' a grand fantasia (airs polonois), a grand rondo (Krakowiak), and a 'Grande Polonoise précédée d'un Andante spianato,' with orchestral accompaniment; 2 sonatas, 1 fantasia (op. 49), 1 duet for two pianos, 24 preludes, 27 studies, 18 nocturnes, 4 ballades, 4 impromptus, 17 valses, 12 polonaises, 56 mazurkas, 4 scherzos, etc. etc. Not many pianoforte works have obtained such general and lasting popularity as those of Chopin. Indeed it may be said that their popularity is like that of Schumann's pianoforte works, steadily increasing. Adolphe Claire le Carpentier (1809–1869) wrote about 160 (mostly educational) works; they consist of bagatelles, rondos, variations, collections called Mosaïques, which in France enjoy a great reputation. The Danish composer, Johann Ole Emil Horneman, (1809–1870) obtained a reputation through his 12 caprices, 12 sketches, and 'Northern Songs without Words.' Robert Schumann (1810–1856) left a rich legacy: he composed 1 concerto, 1 concertstück, 1 concert-allegro, 6 sonatas (op. 11, 14, 22, 118), 11 fancy-pieces (phantasie-stücke), 8 novelletten, 12 etudes symphoniques, 12 transcriptions of Paganini's caprices, 6 studies in canon-form, and 4 sketches for the pedal piano; characteristic collections, 'Les Papillons,' 'Die Davidsbündler,' 'Carneval,' 'Scenes from Childhood,' 'Kreisleriana,' 'Arabesque,' 'Blumenstück, ' 'Humoresque,' 'Night Visions,' 'Vienna Carnival,' 'Album for the young,' 'Forest Scenes,' 'Leaves of variegated colours,' 'Album Leaves,' 'Morning Songs'; variations on the name 'Abegg,' 6 intermezzi, impromptu on an air of Clara Wieck, a toccata, an allegro, a fantasia, 3 romanzas, scherzo, gigue, romanza, and fughetta; 6 fugues on the name 'Bach'; 4 fugues, 4 marches, 7 pieces in fughetta-form; besides as duets, 'Oriental Pictures,' 12 pianoforte duets for players of all ages, and 'Ball Scenes.' In Schumann's pianoforte works we possess one of the greatest treasures; they are unrivalled for their poetical and intellectual content, and afford an unceasing source of the most genuine pleasure. Felicien David (1810–1876) wrote several collections of very charming melodies, more or less connected with his famous 'Le Desert'; their names, 'Les Minarets,' 'Les Brises d'Orient,' suggest this relation; 3 'valses expressives' of his composition may also be recommended. Wilhelm Taubert (1811–), a pupil of Ludwig Berger, has composed a great number of pleasing, effective, brilliant, and interesting pieces. We have from his pen, 1 concerto, 5 sonatas, impromptus, scherzos, 12 excellent studies, op. 40 (a sterling work), the world-renowned 'Campanella' and 'Najade'; collective works of great merit, viz. 'Miniatures,' 'Camera Obscura,' 'Tutti frutti,' 'Minnelieder,' 'Souvenir d'Ecosse,' etc. Among his original duets are four marches and a duo (op. 10) in A minor. Leopoldine Blahetka (1811–) has composed a concertstück, 12 books of variations, polonaises, a 'Dutch' and an 'English' fantasia. Camille Marie Stamaty (1811–1870), a respected Paris professor, composed a concerto, 2 sonatas, 25 studies (op. 11), 'Etudes progressives' (op. 37, 38, 39); also the studies, 'Les Concertantes' (op. 46, 47); fantasias, and numerous transcriptions. Henri Rosellen (1811– [App. p.748 "date of death 1876"]), a popular French professor, has composed about 150 works, chiefly consisting of fantasias, rondos, divertissements on favourite airs, 12 studies (op. 60), several duets, excellent for tuition. Ferdinand Hiller (1811– [App. p.748 "date of death 1885"]) has composed a great number of excellent and highly interesting pieces, full of talent and intelligence. Several concertos (op. 5 in A♭, op. 69 in F♯ minor), and sonatas, the celebrated studies (op. 15, 52), capriccios, a great number of small pieces ('zur Guitarre,' 'Albumblatt,' 'La Danse des Fées,' 'La Danse des Fantômes'), 'Réveries au Piano' (op. 17, 33), 'Huit mésures variées,' 24 Claverstücke, op. 66, 79, 81; six sonatas, op. 95, 'Gavotte,' 'Sarabande,' and 'Courante' (op. 115), etc. Franz Liszt[2] (1811– [App. p.748 "date of death 1886"]) has been active in every branch of pianoforte composition: among his original compositions we find (op. 1) 12 études, later transformed into the 'Etudes d'exécution transcendante'; an 'Allegro di Bravura' (op. 4), a 'Valse di Bravura' (op. 6), 'Album d'un Voyageur,' in 12 pieces, 'Canzone napolitana,' 'Harmonies poétiques et religieuses,' grand concert solo, concerto pathétique (for 2 pianos), Consolations, a sonata in B major. Among his works composed on national airs or those of other composers are his celebrated 'Rhapsodies hongroises,' 'Trois airs suisses,' transcriptions of airs by Donizetti, Mercadante, Rossini, Bellini; of songs by Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Franz, Dessauer, Alabieff, Berlioz, Beethoven, Weber, Duke of Saxe Coburg; many fantasias and variations on operatic airs, arrangements of symphonies by Beethoven and Berlioz, of organ fugues by Sebastian Bach, paraphrases of violin pieces by Paganini and Ferdinand David; indeed Liszt's activity and versatility are truly astonishing. Vincenz Lachner (1811–) has composed several rondinos, a prelude and toccata in D minor, impromptu and tarentella, 'Bunte Blätter,' charming rustic dances, etc. Sigismund Thalberg[3] (1812–1871). Among Thalberg's original pieces are—'Souvenirs de Vienne'; 12 caprices; valses, op. 4; grand concerto, op. 5; caprice in E minor, op. 15; 2 nocturnes, op. 16; caprice in E♭, op. 19; 3 nocturnes, op. 21;

  1. Compare Special Thematic Catalogue (Leipzig, Breltkopf & Härtel).
  2. See Catalogue (Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel), and List at pp. 149–151 of this volume.
  3. Compare Special Catalogue of Thalberg's works (Leipzig, Senff).