Title: Gaspar Cassadó: a study of Catalan cello arrangementsand cello performance style
Abstract:This thesis explores the legacy of Catalan cellist and composer Gaspar Cassado (1897–1966). It provides a summary of his life and legacy, an analysis of his performance style and transcription style, ...This thesis explores the legacy of Catalan cellist and composer Gaspar Cassado (1897–1966). It provides a summary of his life and legacy, an analysis of his performance style and transcription style, and explores the implications of the findings for the related fields of Catalan and Spanish twentieth-century music, musical transcription and twentieth-century cello performance. The text is complemented with a CD containing recordings of cello works by Cassado performed by the author of this thesis, as well as the first attempt to list definitively Cassado’s compositions, transcriptions and recordings, which are found in Appendices I–IV. Cassado’s performance style is analysed mainly through recording comparisons between him and a number of cellists connected with his cultural and historical background. The comparisons conclude that Cassado, although displaying certain similarities with other cellists in the comparison, cannot truly be said to have belonged to a tradition or generation based solely on performance characteristics; instead more general aspects of approach, philosophy and influence exerted on other performers need to be taken into account. The discussion of his transcriptions includes a study of music transcription history and the related area of language translation, to provide a context for a number of case studies, analysing genres and styles within Cassado’s output. The study concludes that a definite attempt is perceptible on Cassado’s part to widen the concept of cello transcription as creative practice, as well as to approach the great historical exponents in the field, such as Franz Liszt. It also emphasises the unusual breadth in styles and types of his output. An additional commentary relates the author’s own performance experience of Cassado’s works, especially with regard to performing several unpublished works and first-hand study with one of Cassado’s disciples. Some conclusions from this commentary include a number of interpretative details of possible use for the future performer of Cassado’s works, with the intention not to be prescriptive but rather to open up new and stimulating possibilities for the performances of this repertoire, keeping in mind Cassado’s own practice of using performances as a workshop to improve musical scores.Read More
Publication Year: 2013
Publication Date: 2013-03-01
Language: en
Type: dissertation
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