Anders Rådén: Liszt & Alkan: the virtuoso piano study – practice study or monstrous mutation? Uppsala: Musikvetenskap, 1998. C-uppsats (60 p).

The purpose of this essay is to analyse a selection of studies by Franz Liszt (1811-1886) and Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888). Can they be defined as practice studies, or are they reshaped in such a manner, as to establish a larger form reminiscent of the concert study? First of all, typical study characteristics of this time period are determined, then such characteristics are looked for in three of either Liszt's and Alkan's studies (from Douze grandes études S137 and Douze études dans les tons mineurs Op. 39). Original sources consist of scores of the two mentioned works; Carl Czerny's Die Schule der Geläufigkeit Op. 299 was used as a reference source for typical study characteristics.The analysis of the studies shows that only by way of exception do they have characteristics in common with traditional studies. Liszt and Alkan explore the traditional study genre in their earlier works, but here they cross its definition line. Form, harmony and virtuosity are expanded beyond recognition, and this is due to two reasons: In order to present technical innovations of a high virtuosity incorporated into a through-composed work. The piano as an instrument was still under development during the time of the composition of these studies. The resulting tone and mechanics of the piano made possible these new innovations. Helped by these new sonorities, to try to emulate a full-scale orchestra as closely as possible.