Henselt’s pianism through his music and related composers

Adolf von Henselt was a German virtuoso pianist and composer of the Romantic period. His early musical training in Germany established his strong musical identity, which he later carried to Russia, his adopted homeland for the remainder of his life. Henselt’s music is characterised by lyrical, poetic melodies combined with technically demanding pianistic writing. He played a pivotal role in bridging German and Russian musical traditions, significantly influencing Russian musicians. Although Henselt’s compositional output was not as extensive as that of contemporaries such as Franz Liszt and Robert Schumann, his work had a profound impact. He drew inspiration from Carl Maria von Weber and Ludwig van Beethoven, which in turn inspired Russian composers like Balakirev, Lyapunov, and even Rachmaninov. These influences are central to my performance projects. This written commentary provides a scholarly examination of Henselt’s background, biography, and compositions. Additionally, it investigates the significant relationships and mutual influences between Henselt and his contemporaries. Chapters One and Two focus on Adolf von Henselt and his music, while Chapters Three to Five explore the influences of his German contemporaries and his subsequent impact on Russian composers. The doctoral Artistic Projects include solo and chamber performances of well-known and lesser-known works by Henselt (Artistic Project 1 and 3), performances of his piano solo arrangements of works by German composer Weber (Artistic Project 2), and performances of pieces by Russian composers who were influenced by Henselt, such as Balakirev and Lyapunov, in comparison with Henselt’s own music (Development Project).