Federico Mompou and the piano: A performer's guide

Abstract

This document seeks to provide a comprehensive performer’s guide to the piano works of Federico Mompou, a composer generally neglected in worldwide studies and performances. Furthermore, it also seeks to solve the problem of language isolation of the main sources of study, and to bring out the importance of Mompou’s own recording of his complete piano works. Chapter 1 consists of a biographical sketch of the composer in relation to the historical and artistic events in Spain and Europe, and more importantly, to Mompou’s own writings in the Spanish and Catalan languages—translations and commentaries in English are provided. Chapter 2 is devoted to Mompou’s attempt to write a piano treatise in 1913 “Study of Feeling,” which develops the main traits of the composers’s playing, and to its connection to his 1974 recording of his complete piano works. Chapter 3 includes a survey of Mompou’s complete piano works, with special emphasis on his sources of inspiration. Chapter 4 explores in detail the sources of Mompou’s Twelve Preludes, which are representative of the composer’s style.