Composer

:

Ernst von Dohnányi

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Ground

Compose Date

:

Mar 1899

Publication Date

:

1910

First Performance

:

Mar 4, 1899

Average_duration

:

11:41

Ernst von Dohnányi's Passacaglia for piano in E flat minor, Op. 6, is a powerful and virtuosic work that showcases the composer's skill as a pianist and his mastery of the passacaglia form. The piece was composed in 1897, when Dohnányi was just 20 years old, and was premiered the following year in Budapest. The Passacaglia is comprised of a series of variations on a repeating bass line, or passacaglia theme, that is stated at the beginning of the piece. The theme is a descending chromatic line that is repeated throughout the work, providing a foundation for the virtuosic variations that follow. The Passacaglia is divided into three main sections, each of which contains a number of variations on the passacaglia theme. The first section of the Passacaglia is characterized by its dark and brooding atmosphere, with the variations exploring the full range of the piano and featuring complex rhythms and harmonies. The second section is more lyrical and introspective, with the variations becoming increasingly complex and virtuosic as the section progresses. The final section of the Passacaglia is marked by its explosive energy and technical demands, with the variations building to a thrilling climax before the piece comes to a dramatic close. Throughout the Passacaglia, Dohnányi demonstrates his skill as a pianist and his ability to create complex and engaging music within the confines of a strict formal structure. The piece is a testament to his early talent as a composer and remains a popular work in the piano repertoire to this day.

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