Marie Jaëll Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor

Performed at Key Change concert at the University of Iowa on November 17, 2024. Soloist: John Thomas Morris Orchestral Reduction: Henry Giles Marie Jaëll's second piano concerto was written in 1884 and borrows some tonal and structural ideas from Beethoven's third piano concerto (also in C minor) as well as Beethoven's fifth symphony. Jaëll was heavily inspired by the pianism of Franz Liszt, with whom she studied. Liszt's influence is salient even from the beginning of this concerto with the dramatic octaves and virtuosic arpeggiated passagework. This concerto also contains many references to well-known works including Beethoven's fifth symphony, Beethoven's third piano sonata, the "La Campanella" etude by Liszt, and even the first four notes of the piece hint at the famous "Dies irae" melody.