After the span of more than three hundred years, the modifications for piano structure had almost reached its evolutionary maturity in the early nineteenth century.

Influenced by the technological developments which occurred during the Industrial Revolution, the “new piano” could produce grander sounds than before, giving musicians of the time the possibility to explore and develop new piano playing techniques. It was also during this era in which transcription thrived. Popular arias and lieder were oftentimes transcribed into solo piano pieces.

As a result, Liszt transcribed works from over forty musicians, ranging from lieder to symphonies in terms of music forms. This is an achievement that remains difficult to surpass, even for modern day musicians.

This thesis discusses how piano’s evolution affected playing technique. Later, an analysis of two transcriptions from Muller-Lieder von Franz Schubert will demonstrate main methods that are still used in solo piano transcriptions today.

[Recital Program]

J. S. Bach : Partita no. 2, BWV 826

F. J. Haydn : Piano Sonata in C minor, Hob. XVI: 20

B. Bartόk : Allegro Barbaro

R. Schumann : Phantasie, op. 17