A Pedagogical Reference Guide and Performance Analysis of Bagatelles, Op. 34 by Jean Sibelius

• Main Author: Chen, Xiaoxiong
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2021
• Subjects: Music; Music theory
• ISBN: 9798516915499

The aim of this treatise is to offer a pedagogical reference guide and performance analysis for Bagatelles, Op. 34, a set of ten short piano pieces by Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) composed between 1914 and 1916. While the eighth piece of the set, “Joueur de harpe,” has been chosen as one of the ABRSM Piano Exam Pieces for 2019 and 2020, Grade 5, the entire set is still relatively unknown among piano teachers and students. This set is not listed in the standard books on piano literature such as Jane Magrath’s Pianists Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Literature and Stewart Gordon’s A History of Keyboard Literature: Music for the Piano and Its Forerunners. Maurice Hinson’s Guide to the Pianist's Repertoire does list the names of the ten pieces, without mentioning the title of the set Bagatelles, but they are not widely discussed in this book. However, Op. 34 is an excellent set for intermediate pianists to develop their skills for musical expression and be exposed to dance music in different musical styles. More and more scholars such as Nancy Bachus and Asami Hagiwara and organizations such as ABRSM and IMSLP have begun to realize the importance of Sibelius’s piano works. The first chapter discusses the composer’s place in music history. The second chapter outlines his piano works. The third chapter offers a pedagogical reference guide and performance analysis of Bagatelles, Op. 34. The last chapter reaffirms the purpose of writing this dissertation, summarizes the pedagogical and performance value, and makes suggestions for further study.