Analysis of Lera Auerbach's 24 Preludes for Cello and Piano

In this thesis, the structural aspects of Lera Auerbach's 24 Preludes for Cello and Piano have been examined. In the first part of the study, the life, musical style, and the Polystylism movement associated with Auerbach—one of the prominent figures of 20th and 21st-century music—are discussed. In addition to her identity as a composer, conductor, and concert pianist, Auerbach has also produced works in other art forms such as painting, sculpture, and literature. In the following sections of the thesis, the historical development of the prelude form, from which the work takes its name, is examined. The emergence of prelude sets and examples of 24-prelude cycles composed by various composers are discussed in detail. These prelude sets, which feature both similar and different arrangements, are evaluated through selected examples from both well-known and lesser-known composers. In the final part, each movement of the 24 Preludes for Cello and Piano is analyzed in detail from a structural perspective, and the study also offers various musical and technical performance suggestions for performers.