|
|
J. A. Štěpán and his Music for Harpsichord from the Musical Archive in Kremsier
Žďárská, Petra ; MRÁZKOVÁ, Giedre (advisor) ; Willi, Barbara Maria (referee)
This thesis focuses on the interpretation of harpsichord sonatas written by Josef Antonín Štěpán / Joseph Anton Steffan (1726–1797), who was an important figure in Viennese musical life of the eighteenth century. His works influenced a large number of his contemporaries, including Joseph Haydn, Jan Křtitel Vaňhal, Leopold Koželuh, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His compositional procedures departed from period conventions: a number of his sonatas and concertos for keyboard instruments begin with a slow introduction to an opening fast movement; he experimented with one-movement forms (sonatas, capriccios); in 1778 he published the very first collection of Germans songs with piano accompaniment in Vienna. The foundation for his music is his detailed knowledge of counterpoint and thoroughbass practice, and he draws on influences from Italian music, Czech folk music, the Gallant style and the Sensitive style. In his late works, he even arrives at a Pre-Romantic style. It is incomprehensible that he has nearly been forgotten in spite of his fame in his own day.
In an attachement there is enclosed a critical edition of Steffan´s sonatas, PicŠ. 19–21 issued in ARTA (April 2017).
Key words:
Joseph Anton Steffan / Josef Antonín Štěpán
Sonatas for keyboard instruments
Sonata form
Interpretation
Chamber music with harpsichord
Musical archive of the Arcibishop´s castle in Kremsier (the Czech Republic)
|
guest ::
