Piano transcription
Encyclopedia
A piano transcription is a piece of music played on one or more pianos that is an approximation of a source piece of music. The source may be music for a solo instrument or voice, an ensemble of instruments and/or voices, or even a piece originally for solo or ensemble piano. Piano transcriptions vary in faithfulness to the music source with some pieces being strict transcriptions (harpsichord to piano transcriptions) while other transcriptions only vaguely approximating the source (Liszt
virtuoso medleys of themes from operas).
grew in number and wealth, they were interested in symphonic and chamber music; the availability, quality, and affordability of attending ensemble music was not able to keep pace with this interest; and the design and production of the piano was modernized. Piano transcriptions filled this gap with transcribers turning old and new popular works into arrangements for one or two pianos involving one to four players. Composers used the transcription as a way to promote their music as well including most notably Brahms. Notable works in this genre include Franz Liszt
's transcriptions of Beethoven's symphonies
and piano transcriptions of baroque works by Ferruccio Busoni
.
, Ronald Stevenson
and Glenn Gould
.
Liszt
Liszt is a Hungarian surname. Notable persons with that surname include:* Franz Liszt , Hungarian composer and pianist* Adam Liszt , father of Franz Liszt* Anna Liszt , mother of Franz Liszt...
virtuoso medleys of themes from operas).
19th Century
During the 19th century the piano transcription became popular for several reasons - the bourgeoisieBourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
grew in number and wealth, they were interested in symphonic and chamber music; the availability, quality, and affordability of attending ensemble music was not able to keep pace with this interest; and the design and production of the piano was modernized. Piano transcriptions filled this gap with transcribers turning old and new popular works into arrangements for one or two pianos involving one to four players. Composers used the transcription as a way to promote their music as well including most notably Brahms. Notable works in this genre include Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
's transcriptions of Beethoven's symphonies
Beethoven Symphonies (Liszt)
Beethoven Symphonies , S.464, is a set of nine transcriptions for solo piano by Franz Liszt of Ludwig van Beethoven's symphonies.-History:Liszt began the work in 1838, but at that time only completed the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Symphonies, of which the Fifth and Sixth were published by Breitkopf &...
and piano transcriptions of baroque works by Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni was an Italian composer, pianist, editor, writer, piano and composition teacher, and conductor.-Biography:...
.
20th Century
Piano transcriptions in the 20th century have been realized by Percy GraingerPercy Grainger
George Percy Aldridge Grainger , known as Percy Grainger, was an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist. In the course of a long and innovative career he played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music in the early years of the 20th century. He also made many...
, Ronald Stevenson
Ronald Stevenson
Ronald Stevenson is a British composer, pianist, and writer about music.-Biography:The son of a Scottish father and English mother, Stevenson studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music , studying composition with Richard Hall and piano with Iso Elinson, graduating with distinction...
and Glenn Gould
Glenn Gould
Glenn Herbert Gould was a Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century. He was particularly renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach...
.