Kenneth Hamilton
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- May 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195178265
- eISBN:
- 9780199870035
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195178265.001.0001
- Subject:
- Music, Theory, Analysis, Composition
This book dissects the oft-invoked myth of a romantic Golden Age of Pianism. It discusses the performance-style of great pianists from Liszt to Paderewski and Busoni, and delves into the ...
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This book dissects the oft-invoked myth of a romantic Golden Age of Pianism. It discusses the performance-style of great pianists from Liszt to Paderewski and Busoni, and delves into the far-from-inevitable development of the piano recital. The book recounts how classical concerts evolved from exuberant, sometimes riotous events into the formal, funereal trotting out of predictable pieces they can be today; how an often unhistorical “respect for the score” began to replace pianists' improvizations and adaptations; and how the clinical custom arose that an audience should be seen and not heard. The book chronicles why pianists of the past did not always begin a piece with the first note of the score, nor end with the last. It emphasizes that anxiety over wrong notes is a relatively recent psychosis, and that playing entirely from memory a relatively recent requirement. The book presents a vivid tale of how drastically different are the recitals of the present compared to concerts of the past, and how their own role has diminished from noisily active participants in the concert experience to passive recipients of artistic benediction from the stage. The book's broad message proclaims that there is nothing divinely ordained about our own concert-practices, programming, and piano-performance styles. Many aspects of the modern approach are unhistorical — some laudable, some merely ludicrous. They are also far removed from those fondly remembered as constituting a Golden Age.Less
This book dissects the oft-invoked myth of a romantic Golden Age of Pianism. It discusses the performance-style of great pianists from Liszt to Paderewski and Busoni, and delves into the far-from-inevitable development of the piano recital. The book recounts how classical concerts evolved from exuberant, sometimes riotous events into the formal, funereal trotting out of predictable pieces they can be today; how an often unhistorical “respect for the score” began to replace pianists' improvizations and adaptations; and how the clinical custom arose that an audience should be seen and not heard. The book chronicles why pianists of the past did not always begin a piece with the first note of the score, nor end with the last. It emphasizes that anxiety over wrong notes is a relatively recent psychosis, and that playing entirely from memory a relatively recent requirement. The book presents a vivid tale of how drastically different are the recitals of the present compared to concerts of the past, and how their own role has diminished from noisily active participants in the concert experience to passive recipients of artistic benediction from the stage. The book's broad message proclaims that there is nothing divinely ordained about our own concert-practices, programming, and piano-performance styles. Many aspects of the modern approach are unhistorical — some laudable, some merely ludicrous. They are also far removed from those fondly remembered as constituting a Golden Age.
Kenneth Hamilton
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- May 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195178265
- eISBN:
- 9780199870035
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195178265.003.0002
- Subject:
- Music, Theory, Analysis, Composition
This chapter traces the development of the piano recital from the variety concerts of the early 19th-century to the present day, along with the associated repertoire and programme planning. Many ...
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This chapter traces the development of the piano recital from the variety concerts of the early 19th-century to the present day, along with the associated repertoire and programme planning. Many great performers are covered, including Liszt, Clara Schumann, Busoni, Paderewski, Friedman, and Horowitz.Less
This chapter traces the development of the piano recital from the variety concerts of the early 19th-century to the present day, along with the associated repertoire and programme planning. Many great performers are covered, including Liszt, Clara Schumann, Busoni, Paderewski, Friedman, and Horowitz.
Kenneth Hamilton
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- May 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780195178265
- eISBN:
- 9780199870035
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195178265.003.0005
- Subject:
- Music, Theory, Analysis, Composition
This chapter analyses the Romantic obsession with a cantabile “singing tone” on the piano, with particular reference to techniques of pedaling, arpeggiation, and asynchronization of hands. The ...
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This chapter analyses the Romantic obsession with a cantabile “singing tone” on the piano, with particular reference to techniques of pedaling, arpeggiation, and asynchronization of hands. The attitudes of Chopin, Liszt, Leschetizky, Paderewski, Busoni, and Grainger to the topic are discussed in detail.Less
This chapter analyses the Romantic obsession with a cantabile “singing tone” on the piano, with particular reference to techniques of pedaling, arpeggiation, and asynchronization of hands. The attitudes of Chopin, Liszt, Leschetizky, Paderewski, Busoni, and Grainger to the topic are discussed in detail.
R. M. Sainsbury and Michael Tye
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199695317
- eISBN:
- 9780191738531
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199695317.003.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Language
This chapter lays out seven puzzles of thought: Hesperus and Phosphorus, twins, cats and chats, Paderewski, pure demonstratives, empty thought and thought about the self.
This chapter lays out seven puzzles of thought: Hesperus and Phosphorus, twins, cats and chats, Paderewski, pure demonstratives, empty thought and thought about the self.
R. M. Sainsbury and Michael Tye
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199695317
- eISBN:
- 9780191738531
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199695317.003.0009
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Language
In this chapter a total of 18 objections are canvassed, and our replies given.
In this chapter a total of 18 objections are canvassed, and our replies given.
Toba Singer
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- September 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780813044026
- eISBN:
- 9780813046259
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Florida
- DOI:
- 10.5744/florida/9780813044026.003.0006
- Subject:
- Music, Dance
Ballet Theatre looks to expand but experiences financial woes, Alicia Alonso develops retinal problems and must return to Cuba, Fernando accompanies her and begins work at Pro-Arte, bringing dancers ...
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Ballet Theatre looks to expand but experiences financial woes, Alicia Alonso develops retinal problems and must return to Cuba, Fernando accompanies her and begins work at Pro-Arte, bringing dancers from Ballet Theatre and Ballet Russe to dance with Cuban-trained dancersLess
Ballet Theatre looks to expand but experiences financial woes, Alicia Alonso develops retinal problems and must return to Cuba, Fernando accompanies her and begins work at Pro-Arte, bringing dancers from Ballet Theatre and Ballet Russe to dance with Cuban-trained dancers
M. B. B. Biskupski
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- June 2013
- ISBN:
- 9781846312144
- eISBN:
- 9781846315251
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Liverpool University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5949/liverpool/9781846312144.003.0006
- Subject:
- History, European Modern History
This chapter examines the political background to the writings of Oskar Halecki and Marceli Handelsman, and highlights the relation between praxis and theory in Polish conceptions of unity and ...
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This chapter examines the political background to the writings of Oskar Halecki and Marceli Handelsman, and highlights the relation between praxis and theory in Polish conceptions of unity and division in Europe. Like Józef Retinger and Józef Piłsudski, Halecki and Handelsman viewed Poland not so much a country as a symbol of a solution to European structural (and ultimately both ethical and geopolitical) problems. All four men challenged the ‘Western’ and unitary principles espoused by the nationalist conception of Poland and Polish history. According to this nationalist view, originally conceived by Roman Dmowski (1864–1939, the father of Polish nationalism), Poland should reject the implications of its post-1386 history (that is, the Polish–Lithuanian Union) and focus on the contest with Germany to secure its position in the centre of Europe. The chapter also considers the geopolitical thought of Ignacy Jan Paderewski in relation to Retinger, Piłsudski, Halecki, and Handelsman and their theoretical opponents in the nationalist camp.Less
This chapter examines the political background to the writings of Oskar Halecki and Marceli Handelsman, and highlights the relation between praxis and theory in Polish conceptions of unity and division in Europe. Like Józef Retinger and Józef Piłsudski, Halecki and Handelsman viewed Poland not so much a country as a symbol of a solution to European structural (and ultimately both ethical and geopolitical) problems. All four men challenged the ‘Western’ and unitary principles espoused by the nationalist conception of Poland and Polish history. According to this nationalist view, originally conceived by Roman Dmowski (1864–1939, the father of Polish nationalism), Poland should reject the implications of its post-1386 history (that is, the Polish–Lithuanian Union) and focus on the contest with Germany to secure its position in the centre of Europe. The chapter also considers the geopolitical thought of Ignacy Jan Paderewski in relation to Retinger, Piłsudski, Halecki, and Handelsman and their theoretical opponents in the nationalist camp.
