From Bagatelles to Capriolen: Eugen d'Albert and his Later Keyboard Works

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to highlight the contributions of pianist and composer Eugen d’Albert (1864–1932) and to function as a practical reference guide for pianists and educators wishing to perform and teach his solo piano music. Most scholarship regarding d’Albert is in German, and this study attempts to bring details about d’Albert’s life and works to an English-speaking audience.

Chapter I gives an introduction to Eugen d’Albert and argues for his significance as a pianist and composer. It also includes the purpose of the study, a review of related literature, the need for the study, limitations, and designs and procedures.

Chapter II provides a biographical sketch of Eugen d’Albert focusing particularly on the years 1905–1932 on which there has been very little written in English. Chapter III gives an overview of d’Albert’s published solo piano works which can serve as a reference for pianists and teachers who are interested in his keyboard music. Information in this chapter includes the level of difficulty of each piano work, original publication details, suggested recordings, and basic features of the work such as tempo indications and time signatures. The chapter also includes brief insights into the unique features and challenges of each work.

Chapters IV and V contain in-depth analyses of works from the last two sets of piano pieces that d’Albert composed—the Bagatelles and the Capriolen. These analyses highlight compositional features of each work and give practical suggestions for teaching and performance. Chapter VI consists of a summary of d’Albert’s lasting contributions applicable to current pianists, scholars, and teachers, and offers suggestions for further research.