After considering Petrouchka's historical and compositional background and the orchestral revision of 1947, this thesis analyzes the composition, dealing specifically with formal, harmonic, and melodic aspects. The study's most important discovery is of a common formal design for all the scenes and the piece as a whole, where the outer thirds of ternary structures are equal in length. The thesis also examines Stravinsky's transcriptional procedures, cataloging and contrasting them with those of the nineteenth century. The solo transcription of Petrouchka is fully discussed in the light of Stravinsky's singular treatment of and writing for the piano. In addition to the recorded performance of Trois Mouvements de Petrouchka, this dissertation includes three tape recordings of selected piano works of J. P. Rameau, L. V. Beethoven, F. Chopin, F. Liszt, C. Franck, A. Scriabin, and G. Crumb.

This paper explores the development of the practice of etudes and provides technical solutions for Frédéric Chopin's Etudes, Op. 10. David McKamie explores each etude in turn and considers various methods to perform them.

This paper analyzes Hector Berlioz's song cycle Les Nuits d’été, Opus 7, for the purpose of performance. Along with musical analysis, Anna Ruth Stone also provides background about the poet Théophile Gautier and describes the appeal of the Berlioz's song cycle.

This paper provides an analysis of Maurice Ravel's song cycle Cinq mélodies populaires grecques and "Tripatos." Pamela D. Hamblin discusses Ravel's musical style of composition and investigates the background and the individuality of the songs.

This dissertation deals with Respighi's output for the organ which consists of the Three Preludes for organ solo, a Suite in G for strings and organ, two transcriptions (the Vitali Ciaccona, and a Suit by Bach), both for violin and organ, and various organ parts in the symphonic poems, operas, and orchestral works. If Respighi was not an innovator, he was at least creative in his use of the organ in his orchestral works. The organ was used primarily for color by adding depth, body, and novelty to the ever-growing orchestra. Respighi paid great attention to the smallest detail in his orchestrations, which were varied, delicate, and precise. Why did this interest in color and sonority not result in similar treatment of the organ in his music? The answer is suggested already in the description of the late romantic/orchestral organ. Its stops had lost their individuality, and they blended together in such a way that no particular color was distinguished. The though is not that Respighi's music, or the music of any other composer, caused the decline, but rather that the direction of organ-building in its search for modernity, machinery, and the industrial age, lost its identity, its characteristics personality …

This paper discusses the concept of "orchestral pianism" as a quality of composition that utilizes the piano's capability of imitating orchestral and vocal sounds. Patrick Widhalm explores the history of the concept, its roots, and the major composers whose writing employed this capability.

This paper highlight the history of the German folk-song and its influence on the work of composer Johannes Brahms. Barbara Gilbert Williams discusses the rise, fall, and rival of the folk-song as an art form and how it and poetry is incorporated into Brahms's compositions.

This paper discusses the compositional techniques developed for the clarinet during the Swing period of big band jazz. Victor E. Wertz traces the history of big band jazz and highlights some major clarinetists and their performance techniques.

This paper provides an analysis of Johann Sebastian Bach's Chaconne in D minor for Solo Violin and its piano transcription by Ferrucio Busoni. Hsiao-Hung Ku highlights the value of transcribing music and compares the original work to its transcription.