Kallen Meyer's program notes

In this paper, I will introduce and discuss the piano works that I performed on my solo recital and concerto recital. The piano works consisted of pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Dmitri Shostakovich. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the historical background, form, harmonies, technique and articulation, and other important aspects of these pieces For my solo recital, I performed a variety of music representing each of the musical styles: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary. In these piano works, the pianist will have to use different ways and techniques to interpret the differences between these styles. This variety of styles allows the pianist/performer to deal with big challenges of performing these works; ranging from the difficulty of the technique, and articulation, to the musicality. Bach's music is categorized in the Baroque period, but his works and style have influenced other genres of music, such as jazz and 20th century composers like Shostakovich. Beethoven represented the Classical period, but he is also the bridge and connection to the Romantic period. Brahms was a virtuoso pianist that composed for not only piano, but also for orchestra, chamber, voice, and chorus. Brahms' music had strong foundations and roots of the Classical Period. Shostakovich represents the Contemporary Period with his use of unique tonality and contrasts. For my concerto recital, I performed Camille Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major.