The Piano in Nineteenth-century British Culture: Instruments, Performers and RepertoireTherese Marie Ellsworth, Susan Wollenberg Since the publication of The London Pianoforte School (ed. Nicholas Temperley) twenty years ago, research has proliferated in the area of music for the piano during the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and into developments in the musical life of London, for a time the centre of piano manufacturing, publishing and performance. But none has focused on the piano exclusively within Britain. The eleven chapters in this volume explore major issues surrounding the instrument, its performers and music within an expanded geographical context created by the spread of the instrument and the growth of concert touring. Topics covered include: the piano trade and how piano manufacturing affected a major provincial town; the reception of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier and Clementi's Gradus ad Parnassum during the nineteenth century; the shift from composer-pianists to pianist-interpreters in the first half of the century that triggered crucial changes in piano performance and concert structure; the growth of musical life in the peripheries outside major musical centres; the pianist as advocate for contemporary composers as well as for historical repertory; the status of British pianists both in relation to foreigners on tour in Britain and as welcomed star performers in outposts of the Empire; marketing forces that had an impact on piano sales, concerts and piano careers; leading virtuosos, writers and critics; the important role played by women pianists and the development of the recording industry, bringing the volume into the early twentieth century. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accompaniment appeared artists audience Bach Bach's bars Beethoven Belfast Book Brahms Britain British career century chamber changes Chapter Chopin Clara classical Clavier Clementi College completed composer compositions concert contemporary continued copy critic dated Davies described early edition England English example F minor February final fugues German given Goddard Grade Gradus Hall Hallé History important included Joachim John June keyboard known later Leipzig letter Liszt London major March marked Mendelssohn minor Miss movement Mozart musicians nineteenth-century noted November October offered opening orchestra original OUMC Oxford particular performance pianist piano Piano Concerto pianoforte pieces played Popular Preludes presented Press programme published pupil recital repertoire Schumann selected Society solo soloist Sonata songs style suggested Table theme tour Trio University Variations Walker Well-Tempered William Sterndale Bennett women World writing