A Lecture Recital, Performance Guide and Descriptive Analysis of Piano Sonata No. 3 Op. 82 by Lowell Liebermann

Lowell Liebermann (b.1961) is one of America’s most frequently performed contemporary composers. He has written a large number of piano pieces and his works are often featured in major competitions and doctoral dissertations. Liebermann’s relationship with the piano began early in life and he considers it to be his principal instrument. His understanding of the strengths and limitations of the piano makes his keyboard creations powerful, expressive, and virtuosic. Although many of his pieces have been performed, his Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 82 has not yet found a large audience or used as the subject of in-depth discussion. It is the author’s hope to stimulate performances of this work through a descriptive analysis and performance guide. This research document begins with a concise biography of the composer, including the composer’s early musical experiences, his education in academia, and his composition career. The second chapter provides a review of the composer’s major works. The third chapter provides a descriptive analysis and performer’s guide, with insights into Liebermann’s expectations of the performer. The present study includes a lecture recital, found online at https://youtu.be/Uf-SpK8cIr0?si=usxy5_AaWu7VoKP4