Schoenberg’s twelve-tone technique; Berg’s works for piano include a sonata and a
chamber concerto.
Hermann Berens (1826-1880) was a German/Swedish composer and pianist; he left a
number of technical studies; his ‘Poetical Studies’ are useful and enjoyable teaching
pieces.
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was a German composer and pianist of the romantic era
who followed the classical tradition in terms of form and structure; his two piano
concertos and piano pieces are widely admired.
Frank Bridge (1879-1941) was an English composer and pianist whose compositions for
piano include a sonata and ‘Rosemary’.
Johann Burgmüller (1806-1874) was a German composer of piano pieces in a light
style, still used as teaching pieces.
Ferrucio Busoni (1866-1924) was an Italian composer and pianist; he made numerous
transcriptions and arrangements of Bach; his own compositions, which are contrapuntal,
intellectual and difficult to play, have been revived in recent years.
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) was a Polish/French composer and pianist of the romantic
period and is the most popular composer for the piano; Chopin really understood how to
write for the piano and is called the ‘poet of the piano’ because of his heartfelt melodies,
novel harmonies and suave piano writing; his mazurkas and polonaises show his Polish
side while his waltzes show his French side.
Muzio Clementi (1752-1832) was an Italian/English composer and pianist of the
classical period; his sonatas are largely used as teaching pieces; Clementi’s piano music
was admired by Beethoven but it is nowadays regarded as somewhat dry although well
written for the piano.
Carl Czerny (1791-1857) was an Austrian pianist, teacher and composer; he is noted for
his studies but he wrote a vast amount of music for piano and other instruments some of
which has been revived.
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was a French composer and pianist of the impressionist
period; Debussy’s early compositions were influenced by Chopin and Liszt but then
developed an original, impressionistic style which influenced later composers.
Ernst (Ernö) von Dohnany (1877-1960) was a Hungarian pianist, conductor and
composer and was a contemporary of both Bartók and Kodály; he wrote ‘Variations on a
Nursery Theme’ for piano and orchestra, solo piano pieces and a Piano School.
Antonin Dvo!ák (1841-1904) was a Czech composer of the romantic era and used the
idioms of Bohemian folk music; he wrote a piano concerto and ‘Humoreske’ for piano.