PERSPECTIVES ON RICHARD STRAUSS’S EARLY COMPOSITIONS FOR SOLO PIANO

Abstract

Although the orchestral works and operas of Richard Strauss (1864–1949) haveachieved universal acclaim, his piano music remains largely unexamined on a scholarly level. Even though Strauss’s array of piano music is diverse, it has not been thoroughly studied in its full spectrum. In fact, there is no major work in English that addresses his piano legacy. This monograph presents Strauss’s piano solo oeuvre by analyzing his stylistic features, sources of inspiration, and development as a composer. Combining all his piano works into a single analytical assessment will provide access to Richard Strauss’s musical world and shine a spotlight on this significant but neglected area of his output. Moreover, the composer’s 12 Variations in D major, TrV 68 (1878) is included and discussed in the monograph for the first time, since they have never appeared in print. It will be a valuable resource for performers and scholars, who can rediscover his music.