Between Chopin and Tellefsen. European Music Treatises – Universality and National Identity

Description

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of the project is protection of cultural heritage and promotion of scientific research in the field of musical culture (especially in the field of  music theory supported the emergence and strengthening national identities).

OPERATIONAL GOALS:

1. coming up with a picture of the original state of European music theory in past periods;
2. developing a deeper understanding of the main theoretical currents, based on texts by leading European music theorists (e.g. Johann Nikolaus Forkel, Heinrich Christoph Koch, Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg, Anton Reicha, Luigi Cherubini);
3. identifying the different paths followed by evolving identities in different countries (notably by the project’s leading figures, Fryderyk Chopin and Thomas Tellefsen);
4. creating free and public online resources on German and French theory, including translations into Polish and English.

EVENTS:

1. 1 online platform (“European Musical Treatises – Universality and National Identity’) on which it will be published in two languages ( in Polish and English) the following musical treatises of the 18th  and 19th  centuries by the following German and French theorists:

• Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg „Abhandlung von der Fuge” (Berlin, 1753)
• Henirch Christoph Koch, „Versuch einer Anleitung zur Composition” (Leipzig, 1782, t. I)
• Johann Nikolaus Forkel „Allgemeine Litteratur der Musik oder Anleitung zur Kenntniß musikalischer Bücher, welche von den ältesten bis auf die neusten Zeiten bey den Griechen, Römern und den meisten neuern europäischen Nationen sind geschrieben worden: Systematisch geordnet, und nach Veranlassung mit Anmerkungen und Urtheilen begleitet” (Leipzig, 1792, t. II)
• Antoine Reicha „Cours de composition musicale, ou Traité complet et raisonné d''harmonie pratique” (Paris, 1818)
• Luigi Cherubini „Cours de contrepoint et de fugue” (Paris, 1832)11 online published publications published on the projects platform

Summary of project results

The project stemed from important questions concerning the universal foundations of culture, which shaped the emergence of national differences that would combine to form the European community. It offered better insights into music culture of the past with its continuity and universality, inviting reappraisals of the output of European composers and helping to gain a better understanding of their creative paths. The project  disseminated, in English and in Polish, the most important texts on music of the 18th and 19th centuries, which were not accessible today as a result of language barriers. This responded to the needs of many researchers and specialists of the young generation and culture consumers in general. The project outcomes had a lasting cultural impact in Europe and produced valuable teaching material for various forms of cultural education. Once complete, the publications are  used as educational material for young researchers. This way, the project was an important element in implementing the strategy for cultural growth in a knowledge-based society, and helped prevent cultural exclusion. In addition, the project tackled the nature and challenges of contemporary cultural identity.

Under the “Culture” programme, a project  implemented to make it possible to build an international team comprising the following: - translators (German to Polish, French to Polish, German to English, French to English), - expert editors comprising musicians and musicologists specialising in 18th- and 19th-century music - production editors - specialists in 18th- and 19th-century music and experienced coordinators of publishing projects acting on behalf of the Applicant. The teams will consist of experienced specialists and representatives of academic institutions from various European countries (including University of Warsaw, Staatliches Institut für Musikforschung Berlin, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic). The aim of the project will be to present the initial status of the problem based on past European music theory, and to prepare English and Polish translations of 18th- and 19th-century treatises with the most relevance to nineteenth-century music teaching. As part of the project, the following volumes will be prepared in two language versions (in chronological order of their first editions): • Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg, Abhandlung von der Fuge (Berlin, 1753) • Henirch Christoph Koch, Versuch einer Anleitung zur Composition (Leipzig, 1782, vol. I) • Johann Nikolaus Forkel, Allgemeine Litteratur der Musik oder Anleitung zur Kenntniß musikalischer Bücher, welche von den ältesten bis auf die neusten Zeiten bey den Griechen, Römern und den meisten neuern europäischen Nationen sind geschriebenanen und mitsechler (Leipzig, 1792, vol. II) • Antoine Reicha, Cours de composition musicale, ou Traité complet et raisonné d''harmonie pratique (Paris, 1818) • Luigi Cherubini, Cours de contrepoint et de fugue (Paris, 1832) The project deliverables will be published online and made available free of charge on a purpose-built platform. The project  run for 24 months, culminating in the publication of results and ending with a public presentation of the project with music recital at the headquarters of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute in Warsaw

The main resultsof the was 1 online platform (“European Musical Treatises – Universality and National Identity’ - https://musictreatises.nifc.pl/en/traktaty) on which is published in two languages ( in Polish and English) the following musical treatises of the 18th  and 19th  centuries by the following German and French theorists:

• Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg „Abhandlung von der Fuge” (Berlin, 1753)
• Henirch Christoph Koch, „Versuch einer Anleitung zur Composition” (Leipzig, 1782, t. I)
• Johann Nikolaus Forkel „Allgemeine Litteratur der Musik oder Anleitung zur Kenntniß musikalischer Bücher, welche von den ältesten bis auf die neusten Zeiten bey den Griechen, Römern und den meisten neuern europäischen Nationen sind geschrieben worden: Systematisch geordnet, und nach Veranlassung mit Anmerkungen und Urtheilen begleitet” (Leipzig, 1792, t. II)
• Antoine Reicha „Cours de composition musicale, ou Traité complet et raisonné d''''harmonie pratique” (Paris, 1818)
• Luigi Cherubini „Cours de contrepoint et de fugue” (Paris, 1832)11 online published publications published on the projects platform

Summary of bilateral results

During the project, the Partner''s tasks included coordinating activities undertaken in Partner Institution, promotional activities of the project in the Norwegian music environment, raising the topic among students of the University of Bergenm as well as initiating and coordinating activities on translation into English, editing and preparation for publication of two treatises theoretical subjects covered by the project: Antoine Reicha Cours de Compostion and Heinrich Christoph Koch Versuch einer Anleitung zur Composition. On the Partner''s initiative, the work was undertaken by a team of specialists, including: including Rachelle Chiasson-Taylor and Dr. Frauke Jürgense