Entre estudos e polcas: a propósito do idiomatismo pianístico de Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959)

Abstract

The collection of sixteen pieces for piano titled Etudes and Polkas [H.308], by Czech composer Bohuslav Martinù (1890-1959) were composed in 1945, in the United States, shortly after the end of World War II. This work belongs to the mature phase of Martinù, and its writing summarizes his language and compositional techniques. This dissertation researches the idiomatic piano writing in these pieces and its relationship to performance practice. In the first chapter we depart from the biography of the composer in order to understand his relationship with the piano and the main elements of his musical language. In the second chapter, after a discussion about the terms idiomatic musical writing and étude, we research the relationship between the composer and the interpreters of his work. This dissertation ends with the analysis of seven selected pieces from this collection.