Title:
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The influence of musical styles on the use of performance cues by pianists
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For most musicians, and especially for pianists, there is a constant demand for the
preparation of a wide range of repertoire to be played from memory in lengthy
recitals and competitions. The research presented here has focused on exploring
the influence of musical styles on the use of performance cues within the piano repertoire. The study took place over a period of 4½ years, during which 3 public
performances were carried out (CD recordings of live performances attached). In
Chapters 1 and 2, previous literature that investigated memory is discussed, with
both the general topic and more specifically, memorisation in relation to
musicians being addressed. This is followed by a pilot study of Ondine from
Gaspard de la Nuit by Ravel, which focused on the development of performance
cues in selected set stages of the learning process (Chapter 3). This investigation
revealed initial links between compositional style and memorisation through the
new performance cues that emerged from the study. The results also showed that
performance cues relate closely to different levels of memory security of a piece.
An interview study with several eminent pianists (Chapter 4) - Vladimir
Ashkenazy, Peter Donohoe, Leslie Howard, Roy Howat, Julian Jacobson, Kevin
Kenner, and Gordon Fergus-Thompson - provided further insight into how expert
pianists approach memorisation in general, alongside addressing the way in which
the pianists approach specific composers’ repertoire, for which their
interpretations are highly acclaimed. Although the participants were not asked
directly about performance cues, results from the study showed that the pianists’
awareness of particular technical and musical features of the scores related closely
to the different types of performance cues reported in existing studies. Case
studies on a wide range of repertoire, performed by the same pianist (Chapter 5),
demonstrated how a pianist used performance cues in different styles of music.
The results showed similarities in the approach to memorisation with the results
from the interview study in Chapter 4. Findings from each of the studies in this
thesis further extend the current knowledge and understanding of memorisation
for musicians (Chapter 6). From a performer’s perspective, the results also offer
valuable material for other pianists, who may hope to enhance their ability to
memorise particular repertoire more effectively and efficiently.
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