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Nicolai Medtner (1880-1951) is regarded as an accomplished composer and one of the most brilliant pianists of his time. He composed numerous compositions for piano that fall into three main categories: piano solo, piano with voice, and piano chamber music. He composed four large-ensemble pieces, including three concerti and the piano quartet in C major.
This essay will concentrate on the lesser-known Piano Concerto
No. 3, subtitled "Ballade." This three- movement work is extremely challenging because of its large and complex structure. Gaining a clear understanding of the structure and its formal innovation is paramount for performance success. It is my hope that this essay will contribute to bringing this piece into the standard repertoire.
There are four chapters in this essay. In Chapter I, a general discussion of the composer's life and his music will be presented. The background of the concerto will be introduced and the purpose of this essay will be discussed in Chapter II. In Chapter III, a detailed analytical discussion of the structure of the concerto will be presented, in order to clarify the structure and the use of thematic materials. Lastly, practice and interpretative suggestions for this concerto will be discussed in Chapter IV.