A Microhistorical Reading of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4

Keywords: Beethoven, Fourth Piano Concerto, microhistory, habitus, Erard

Abstract

This article is an attempt to indicate new areas in the study of Beethoven’s music (Fourth Piano Concerto), which can be developed by applying a microhistorical perspective to musicology. It begins with a short reflection on the usefulness and presence of microhistories in research on the art of sound. The author then presents the results of Mark Ferraguto’s analyses, focusing on such issues as Beethoven’s piano technique in relation to the expectations of his contemporary listeners; the category of virtuosity in the context of the aesthetic debates of the time; the composer’s artistic personality; and the possibilities and limitations of the instrument at his disposal in the process of composition.

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Published
2021-12-09
Section
Articles