Date of Award

Summer 2025

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Department

School of Music

First Advisor

Phillip Bush

Second Advisor

Charles Fugo

Abstract

Sergei Prokofiev transcribed and arranged many of his own works, including excerpts from many of his ballets and one of his symphonies. Among his most famous transcriptions are the piano versions of Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella, both derived from his ballet scores.

This document explores Prokofiev’s approach to transcription through a comparative analysis of the orchestral and piano versions as well as an analysis of the transcriptions considered as independent compositions. Chapter One outlines the value and necessity of a comparative analysis. Chapter Two provides brief historical overviews of Russian ballet and piano transcription, highlighting how Prokofiev expanded on the work of his predecessors and contributed to both genres. Chapter Three analyzes the structure of two of Prokofiev’s piano transcriptions—Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella— focusing on selected pieces from these transcriptions, examining their organization, harmony, rhythm, texture, and use of tone color. This chapter also investigates the unique features of these selected pieces. Chapter Four compares the similarities and differences in compositional treatment among the selected pieces—specifically, two dance scenes and two love scenes—focusing on texture, sonority, pianistic versus orchestral writing, and interpretive approaches to reimagining orchestral sound on the piano. Finally, Chapter Five summarizes the study, demonstrating how this analytical approach can provide new interpretative insights for pianists.

Rights

© 2025, Yu Hua Wu

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