The impact and influence of Ferruccio Benvenuto Busoni's piano transcriptions on the development of piano literature

Abstract

A graduate piano and organ recital was prepared as a four hour creative project and presented February 19, 1978 at 4130 p.m. Tapes of the recital were made and place on file as verification of the program. The first half of the program was performed on the piano and the second the organ.The recital program was as follows:Chaconne in D minor Ferruccio Busoni from J.S. Bach's Sonata for Violin Solo, No. 4 Excursions, opus 20 Samuel Barber Un Poco Allegro In Slow Blues Tempo Allegretto Allegro Molto Malambo Alberto Ginastera INTERMISSION Prelude and Fugue in B minor,BWV 544 J.S. Bach Pieces de fantaisie Louis Vierne Opus 53, No. 5 Claire de lune Esquisses Byzantines Henri Mulet No. 10, Toccata ("Tu es petra")In conjuntion with the recital the following paper has been written relating to one aspect of the recital.This paper is a discussion of the impact and influence of Ferruccio Busoni's piano transcriptions on the development of piano literature. This study helped this author gain new insights in understanding why and how a composer transcribes music from the original score.In this paper are included discussions on the life of Ferruccio Busoni, the composing and performing techniques of Busoni, his view of transcriptions, and a comparison of a transcription to the original piece.