Virtuosity and the Musical Work

Virtuosity and the Musical Work by Jim Samson

This book is about three sets of etudes by Liszt: the Etude en douze exercices (1826), its reworking as Douzes grandes études (1837), and their reworking as Douzes études d'exécution transcendante (1851). At the same time it is a book about nineteenth-century instrumental music in general, in that the three works invite the exploration of features characteristic of the early Romantic era in music. These include: a composer-performer culture, the concept of virtuosity, the significance of recomposition, music and the poetic, and the consolidation of a musical work-concept. A central concern is to illuminate the relationship between the work-concept and a performance- and genre-orientated musical culture. At the same time the book reflects on how we might make judgements of the 'Transcendentals', of the Symphonic Poem Mazeppa (based on the fourth etude), and of Liszt's music in general.

'In Virtuosity and the Musical Work: The Transcendental Studies of Liszt, Samson shows mastery of an enormous range of sources, a deep acquaintance with the music, and he writes with clarity and styleHis exposition of Liszt's development of the études over a period of many years … is especially effective. I have no doubt that this will be the standard work on The Transcendental Studies for years to come.' The Times Literary Supplement

Jim Samson has been a Professor of Music at the Universities of Exeter and Bristol and is now Professor of Music at Royal Holloway, University of London. He has published widely on the music of Chopin and on analytical and aesthetic topics in nineteenth- and twentieth-century music and has recently edited the Cambridge History of Nineteenth-Century Music. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and holds the Order of Merit of the Polish Ministry of Culture.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780521036047
ISBN 10	0521036046
Title	Virtuosity and the Musical Work
Author	Jim Samson
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	2007-04-23
Number of pages	252
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
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