European Piano Schools in the 20th century: Personality and aesthetic identity of the interpreters

Abstract

The aim of this study is to characterize representative performances of pianists, by assessing essential lines and main trends in performative practice, referred to as National Piano Schools. Studies and previous research demonstrate the existence of national traditions of specific interpretative practices of defined communities of pianists who share similar characteristics, of an aesthetic, technical, historical and repertoire nature. Primary sources were analyzed, namely, piano pedagogy literature, articulated as a methodology for empirical analysis of audio examples and the application of a qualitative evaluation grid. The main National Piano Schools are divided into three main groups: the Russian School, the French School and the German School. Its systematic identification and study protect and value the heritage of the intangible heritage of music of European origin in the understanding of processes of identification, mediation and hybridization in musical practice and communication.