Perspectives on Ernst von Dohnanyi

Although Ernst von Dohnányi (1877-1960) was considered by many of his contemporaries the greatest musician of his generation, his considerable musical legacy was largely ignored by the musical community in the latter half of the 20th Century. This was primarily the result of a regrettable trend in the arts that valued avant-garde compositional styles at the expense of the works of composers who remained faithful to the musical language of 19th Century Romanticism. Recent years, however, have brought revised assessments of Dohnányi, which disprove many of the misgivings and criticisms expressed by earlier scholars. Edited by a leading contemporary scholar, this work represents an essential next step in restoring Dohnányi to his rightful place in the annals of great musicians. Many of the essays collected here have been carefully selected from the finest papers presented at the 2002 International Ernst von Dohnányi Festival at The Florida State University and are in this volume available publicly for the first time, while others are reprints of writings that have made significant advances in the field. Of particular importance is Viktor Papp's essential 1927 biography of Dohnányi, available here in English for the first time.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Examples Part 2 Figures Part 3 Tables Part 4 Preface Part 5 Perspectives on Dohnanyi's Life Chapter 6 Ernst von Dohnanyi: A Tribute Chapter 7 Ernst von Dohnanyi: A Portrait Chapter 9 Dohnanyi and Great Britain Chapter 10 Historical Documents: Bela Bartok on Dohnanyi Part 11 Perspectives on Dohnanyi as a Composer Chapter 12 Transcending the Piano: Orchestral and Improvisational Elements in Dohnanyi's Piano Music Chapter 13 Self-Identification in the Romantic Tradition: Dohnanyi's Winterreigen, Op. 13 Chapter 14 Dohnanyi's Six Concert Etudes, Op. 28: Context and Content Chapter 15 Compositional Process in Dohnanyi's Symphony in E Major, Op. 40 Chapter 16 Dohnanyi's American Rhapsody, Op. 47: An Emigre's Tribute to the New World Chapter 17 Historical Documents: Dohnanyi on Music Part 18 Perspectives on Dohnanyi as a Person Chapter 19 Message to Posterity Chapter 20 Dohnanyi at Tallahassee: A Personal Reminiscence Chapter 21 Memories of Dohnanyi Chapter 22 Dohnanyi as a Teacher Chapter 23 Historical Documents: Dohanyi on Teaching Part 24 Index Part 25 About the Contributors

About the Author :
James A. Grymes is Assistant Professor of Musicology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and President of the International Dohnányi Research Center.

Review :
In 1920 Béla Bartók wrote: 'Musical life in Budapest today may be summed up in one name-Dohnyányi.' This giant of 20th-century Hungarian music, as composer, pianist, conductor and teacher, is largely forgotten today. Only one or two of his compositions are occasionally played, while there are few recordings of his phenomenal instrumental artistry. However, this valuable book should inspire many readers to listen to some of his major works, and to seek out the two CDs of Dohnyányi the pianist issued in 2004....James Grymes comments: 'Ilona [the composer's third wife] projected on to the text the image of Dohnyányi as she wanted him to be remembered and then put his name to it.' Nevertheless, her portrait of a man of honesty, generosity, courage (when confronted by Nazism), moral strength and integrity is corroborated many times over throughout this indispensable book.