An Analysis Of Amy Beach:Variations On Balkan Theme,Op.60

Amy Beach,recognized as America’s first female composer who has an international reputation.Her compositions had a tremendous influence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.From small solo pieces to large symphonies,Amy Beech’s works are widely involved in a variety of genres and forms.She created more than 300 works,almost all of which were widely released and performed shortly after they’re composed.She is one of the representative composers of the late Romantic era.However,in the decades after her death,her musical works were gradually forgotten,and it was until the 1970s that her musical works began to be re-examined and studied by scholars.As an outstanding piano pianist,Amy Beech composed a large number of piano works.From small piano pieces for children to large piano chamber music,Amy Beech’s piano works involve a wide range of difficulties and can be played by students in different levels.She also performed her own piano works in pubic regularly,her music received a high reputation both in the United States and Europe.The Variations on Balkan Themes is one of the longest and hardest piece among her piano solo works.The themes are based on four Balkan folk melodies.The piece shows that the composer has a strong interest in different music and cultures.This work has attracted the attention of foreign scholars and performers for many years.This thesis will be discussed in three chapters:Chapter One gives a comprehensive introduction to the composer’s background,experience,and music creation.The second chapter will examine the forms and characteristics of the work,and also its style.itself from various perspectives;The third chapter will analyze the work from the performer’s aspect.The fourth chapter will discuss the different version of this work,and introduce to some related recordings.