Thesis Format

Monograph

The Integration of the Style Hongrois into Brahms’s Musical Language in His Chamber Works

Author

Raymond D. Truong, The University of Western OntarioFollow

Degree

Doctor of Musical Arts

Program

Music

Supervisor

Franck, Peter

Abstract

The style hongrois is a musical language that Western European composers used to evoke the style of the Hungarian music performed by Romani musicians. This monograph explores the use of the style hongrois in the chamber works of Johannes Brahms. He uses this style often, to the point where it is integrated into his musical language. To understand where this language came from, this monograph provides a historical context of Hungary (the country of origin), the Roma who resided there and migrated westwards, and their musicians.

The second part of this monograph explores the integration of the style hongrois into Brahms’s musical language by analyzing two movements of his chamber music. The analysis explores different concepts that are pervasive throughout the movement, and how Brahms uses the style hongrois to intersect these concepts. Additionally, this monograph offers a comparison between Brahms’s overt and covert application of the style hongrois. I will demonstrate his overt application of the style hongrois in the fourth movement of the Piano Quartet no. 1, op. 25, titled ‘rondo alla zingarese’, and how he uses it covertly by integrating it into his own musical language, as seen in the fourth movement of the Piano Quintet, Op. 34.

Summary for Lay Audience

The style hongrois is a musical language that Western European composers used to evoke the style of the Hungarian music performed by Romani musicians. Johannes Brahms uses this style often, to the point where it is integrated into his musical language. This monograph first lays out the context in which the style hongrois was developed, and then explores the integration of this style into Brahms’s musical language by analyzing two movements of his chamber music. The analysis explores different concepts that are pervasive throughout the movement, and how Brahms uses the style hongrois to intersect these concepts.

Recommended Citation

Truong, Raymond D., "The Integration of the Style Hongrois into Brahms’s Musical Language in His Chamber Works" (2021). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 7696.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/7696

Creative Commons License

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