Pianistic Analysis of Bedřich Smetana's Piano Cycle Dreams, Six Characteristic Pieces for Piano

Abstract

This document provides a study resource for teachers and performers concerning Bedřich Smetana’s piano cycle Dreams, a musical work that played a key role in the development and recognition of a distinctly Czech style. The Dreams cycle consists of six pieces that are part of the standard repertoire for Czech pianists. Outside of the Czech Republic, however, these pieces attract very little attention despite favorable comparison with similar works by Smetana’s contemporaries, Liszt, Schumann and Chopin. The Introduction presents a review of related literature, including relevant historical and biographical studies, dissertations, journal articles and key recordings of Smetana’s compositional output. A survey of Czech composers preceding Smetana who wrote piano music and a discussion of Smetana’s historical contributions to the development of a distinctly Czech musical style are provided. Also present is a discussion of the historical, musical, and compositional factors that influenced Smetana’s compositional style as expressed in Dreams, including the influence of his idols, Liszt, Schumann, and Chopin. The major portion of the document presents a formal analysis guided by the summaries by Czech music scholar Mirko Očadlík. In addition, a comparison of Smetana’s compositional techniques with those used by Liszt, Schumann, or Chopin and practice suggestions and a performer’s analysis are included. These practice suggestions are based on the writers’ pianistic experience and also consider interpretational differences between the Urtext edition of Dreams and the edition published by Jan Novotný, a Czech pianist and distinguished pedagogue. The study concludes with a summary of important issues, including the key structure and pianistic and performance aspects of each piece in the cycle Dreams. Also included are suggestions for ways that the subject matter may be extended and explored, including suggestions for more extensive pedagogical use of Smetana’s piano compositions. Though often overlooked, the piano cycle Dreams makes a critical contribution to the Czech piano repertory.