| Summary: | <p> The subject of this dissertation is the contemporary Russian composer and pianist Nikolai Kapustin. Being himself a virtuoso pianist, Kapustin has written a large repertoire for solo piano. During the last fifteen years, the popularity of Kapustin in the United States has grown enormously through performances, publications, presentations, and recordings. Kapustin's output has over 150 opus numbers in all major forms of Baroque, Classical and Romantic music, such as suite, invention, preludes and fugues, variations, sonata, concerto, and more. </p><p> Kapustin's style fuses the classical approach to form and the jazz approach to harmony and rhythm in a very unique way. His compositional style is strongly influenced by American jazz, particularly the style of Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, Herbie Hancock, and Bill Evans. From the other side, his music is strongly influenced by composers of Classical music such as Alexander Scriabin, Sergei Rachmaninov, Frederick Chopin, Maurice Ravel, and Bela Bartok. </p><p> Kapustin composed twenty Piano Sonatas during the period of 1984-2011. There has been little research to this point regarding the music of Kapustin and no formal research has been completed concerning Piano Sonata No. 3. This sonata is the particular scope of this dissertation, as nearly every aspect of Kapustin's compositional style can be found in this work. </p><p> Sonata No. 3 was composed in 1990 and was published in August 2014. The Sonata is a one-movement work and it contains a quote of the "Dies Irae" theme, which sets this work apart from his other sonatas. </p><p> This dissertation will provide biographical information on Nikolai Kapustin, historical and musical background, and will include an analysis of Piano Sonata No. 3. </p><p> Fortunately, the author speaks the Russian language and had opportunities to meet with Nikolai Kapustin. The information obtained in personal interviews with the composer will also be presented. </p><p> Hopefully, this dissertation will promote further research, performance, and understanding of the music of one of the most outstanding modern day composers, Nikolai Grigorievich Kapustin.</p>
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