Interpreting folk-inspired piano repertoire for idiomatic performance

Abstract

This research examines the process of interpreting folk-inspired piano music for idiomatic performance. Contextualising the issues of ‘authenticity’ within folk music and the subjectivity of national colour, Bartók’s Romanian Dances and selected pieces from Grieg’s Slatter Op. 72 are analysed with respect to original instrumentation as well as the composer’s creative input. Pedagogical suggestions include relating articulation in the piano score to bow markings, using imagery of Norwegian landscape to grasp concepts of timbre, imitating the sonorities of the hardanger fiddle, understanding the composer’s harmonic setting to enhance the character of the music.