Influences in Ernest Chausson's Piano Quartet

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine Chausson’s Piano Quartet and to demonstrate how it was influenced by Franck, Wagner, Debussy, and elements of Spanish music. In his Piano Quartet, Ernest Chausson merges cyclical form (which he learned from Franck), a chromatic harmonic language (influenced by Wagner), ideas such as pentatonicism (imparted upon him by his younger friend Debussy), and exotic elements of Spanish music. The combination of these elements together makes his Piano Quartet stand out from his other works. Chausson’s biographical background, his interests in literature and art, his compositional style, and the background of his Piano Quartet are also provided.