America’s first important woman composer, Amy Beach, composed one of the first American piano concertos, Piano Concerto in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 45 (1899). In this work, Beach borrows themes from three of her own vocal works. Jeune fille et jeune fleur, Op. 1, No. 3, is used as the secondary theme of the first movement. The main theme of the second movement originates from Empress of Night, Op. 2, No. 3. Twilight, Op. 2, No. 1, is used as the main inspiration of the third movement of the piano concerto, which is through-composed, as well as the third theme in the fourth movement. Beach incorporates these melodies into several standardized forms found in the piano concerto, including sonata-allegro and rondo forms, while including the harmonic rhetoric characteristic of the turn of the twentieth century. In addition, Beach develops the work by transforming four motives derived from the opening of the piano concerto, which are subsequently found in every movement. Characteristics of the motives also can be combined, creating new distinctive transformations.

Works: Amy Beach: Piano Concerto in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 45.

Sources: Amy Beach: Jeune fille et jeune fleur, Op. 1, No. 3 (46-48), Empress of Night, Op. 2, No. 3 (54-59), Twilight, Op. 2, No. 1 (62-65, 73-74, 107-8, 111).

Index Classifications: 1800s

Contributed by: Devin Chaloux