Pianist across Time

This treatise is divided into two parts. Part 1 examines elements of polystylism and their implications in the piano music of Carter Pann, particularly in the two sets, The Piano’s 12 Sides and the Five Serious Pieces for Piano. In addition to identifying the various styles and composers that influenced Pann’s works, this exploration seeks to highlight points of contact between Pann’s music and the broader trend of musical postmodernism, as well as discuss performance issues for the benefit of performers. Concerning the performance implications, the artistry of the late pianist Joel Hastings, for whom much of Pann’s piano music was written, offers valuable insight to future performers. Part 2 of this treatise examines the topic of piano variations inspired by the sacred music of J.S. Bach, including Franz Liszt’s Variations on a Theme by Bach, “Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen” S. 179, Richard Danielpour’s Piano Fantasy (“Wenn ich einmal soll scheiden”), and Ferruccio Busoni’s Fantasia nach Bach and Improvisation on the Bach Chorale “Wie wohl ist mir, o Freund der Seelen.” The analysis seeks to demonstrate themes of purpose and suffering shared by each of the four works, both in their internal characteristics and in the historical circumstances surrounding them.