Great Piano Works Explained

By: Catherine Kautsky, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Catherine Kautsky

The glorious repertoire for solo piano includes many of classical music’s most beloved masterpieces. In these 24 musically rich lectures, you’ll dig deeply into this magnificent tradition, in an in-depth exploration of the art of listening. With Professor Kautsky’s inspired guidance and expert playing, you’ll highlight key works of each composer, and unpack their structure, the musical materials that drive them, and the specific features that affect listeners so strongly, giving you a clear grounding in how to approach and hear this great music.

Within a rich spectrum of piano masterpieces, you’ll explore:

· Mozart’s Sonata in C Minor, K. 457—Hear the influence of opera in this tempestuous sonata, where Mozart transports the listener from joy to sorrow and back again in an ever-changing kaleidoscope of emotions.

· Beethoven’s Sonata Opus 110—In this monumental musical journey, study the majestic first movement, the dramatic Allegro molto, and the Arioso and great fugue that ends the sonata in triumphant affirmation.

· Schumann’s Kreisleriana, Papillons, and Carnaval—Delight in Schumann’s resplendent piano “cycles,” anthology-like works revealing multiple musical “characters” and sonic landscapes.

· Chopin’s Ballade in F Minor—Grasp how Chopin delivers a seemingly epic musical narrative within 12 minutes, moving from lyric tenderness to a passionate, thunderous denouement.

· Debussy’s Claire de Lune and Preludes—Grasp the compositional means behind the beloved, ethereal Claire de Lune, and taste the exoticism, humor, and flights of fancy of Debussy’s incandescent Preludes.

· Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata—Hear how this American innovator incorporates unconventional harmonies, dense textures, and multiple musical quotations in a massive, sprawling artistic statement.

In Great Piano Works Explained, you’ll study masterpieces from a wide selection of the great composers, deepening your skill in hearing and appreciating these timeless creations of the human spirit.

Disclaimer: Please note that this recording may include references to supplemental texts or print references that are not essential to the program and not supplied with your purchase.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 The Great Courses (P)2022 The Teaching Company, LLC

Highly recommended!!

“Great Piano Worked Explained” is welcome addition to the piano literature that brings familiar works from the standard piano canon to life for music lovers of every level of expertise. Over the years, I’ve read many of Kautsky’s articles and books and attended many of her lecture-recitals, and although I am a pianist who knows the repertoire well, I never fail to learn something stunningly new and exciting every time. It’s inspiring and illuminating to hear these beloved works through the ears and mind of such a perceptive and passionate intellect. Rigorously researched, these presentations draw from the author’s 6-decade engagement with 24 iconic piano works in a highly entertaining, witty, and unpretentious style. Kautsky is a master storyteller who weaves narrative strands from musical and literary analysis, art criticism, politics, sociology, religion into a fascinating tapestry that pictures each work within a context of time and place. Enthusiastically recommended!

Example demonstrations

The overall explanation was interesting, from the 50% of what I understood. If only the professor would speak NORMALLY, instead of acting out exaggeratedly in a theatrical manner, it would have been possible to understand what she wants to say. It’s a pity because when she talks normally, it’s a pleasure to follow her lectures.

The book should be called my political views and classical music.

If this would of been my first book reading trying to learn about classical music I think I would of been turned off by it. She builds credibility with the choices she makes on the pieces to talk about. Then she destroys her credibility by shoving her political views down your throat. She was very obnoxious to listen too would of been more enjoyable to listen too had she just talked about music. Thank God this wasn't a actual class I was taking I would of just walked out.