Perusing the literature devoted to travels, one has to admit that musicians’ journeys have rarely aroused the interest of travel specialists. On this particular point, musicological literature remains nearly silent, too. There is thus no doubt that this conference on travels will help to map lands that are still unexplored. It is hoped that the sessions, during which historians -specialists in cultural practices and travels- and music historians will join together, will allow the work of the various groups of the programme Musical Life in Europe to be re-centred on common perspectives.
Conference participants are invited to investigate the reasons, extent and conditions of the travel of musicians between the 17th and the early 20th centuries, as well as its effects on their individual careers. At the same time, travel will be studied as a means of cultural and musical transfer, accompanying the circulation of practices and repertories as well as encouraging the internationalization of the musical life in Europe. Travellers on whom research should be focused will not only be musicians such as composers, virtuosi, conductors, orchestras, orchestra musicians, singers, opera companies, and so on, but also other important contributors to musical life such as impresarii, publishers, instrument makers, critics, and dilettanti. It is also hoped that this conference will lead to reflection on the various sources available (autobiographical sources as well as memoirs, travel diaries, letters, concert advertisements, newspapers, etc.) and their use and interpretation in relation to the chosen theme.
Papers are to be sent to the conference organizers before 1 August 1999. Papers will be grouped into sessions according to theme (i.e., one or two related themes per half-day session), but will not be read. A member of the panel will present a synthesis of the grouped papers in a 30-minute report, after which each speaker will have 10 minutes at his disposal to comment or explicite details. A discussion will follow.
Papers discussed in the conference will be adapted later on as part of a monograph on travel. Their final versions will be due by June 2000.
In order to facilitate the organization of the discussions, contributors will be requested to send a two- or three-page abstract by 1 September 1999 at the latest. These will be distributed to all participants.
For further information please contact:
- Hans ErichBödekerE-Mail
- Max-Planck-Institut für WissenschaftsgeschichteBerlinGermany
Fields of research:
The conference is to cover the following fields:
1. Musicians and contributors
- opera companies, orchestras and chamber music ensembles
- orchestra musicians
- Kapellmeisters, Musikdirektors, etc.
- virtuosi
- travelling women-musicians
- dilletanti
- critics
- conductors
- impresarii
- instrument makers (i.e., organ makers)
- publishers, engravers and printers of music
2. Reasons and circumstances of travel
- study, education, training, attendance at educational institutions (conservatories, etc.)
- fame, professional career
- travel as a type of career
- professional networks
- subordinate positions
- engagements, contracts
- meeting famous musicians
3. Geographical considerations
- destinations: countries, principalities, urban centres, etc. (e.g., a comparative study of journeys to Italy in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries)
- evolution and change of travel goals in the course of the time: from residential courts and towns to cultural capitals
4. Conditions and means of travel
- legal conditions
- budget
- means of travel (on foot, by coach, boat, train, etc.)
- organization of travel (tours, impresario or agent as travel or tour organizer)
- travel routes
- travel durations
5. Representations
- travel experiences and their interpretation
- the traveller and his perception of others (e.g., national differences)
6. Effects and results of travels
- evolution of taste and musical practices in a given centre
- evolution in the career of musician
- circulation of works and repertories
- internationalization
Programme:
Session 1:
Christian Meyer: Kommentar
Michael Heinemann: Musikerreisen und kultureller Austausch im 17. Jahrhundert. Das Beispiel Dresden in den 1620er Jahren.
Herbert Seifert: Nordwärts reisende Gesangsvirtuosen aus Italien und ihr stilistisches "Gepäck" im Seicento: einige Fallstudien.
Andrea Sommer-Matthis: Politik und Musikerreisen zu Beginn des 18. Jahrhunderts am Beispiel Giuseppe Porsiles.
Session 2:
Hans Erich Bödeker: Kommentar
Rudolf Angermüller: "unter lauter vieher und bestien (was die Musique anbelangt)". Mozarts Pariser Aufenthalt 1778.
Daniel Brandenburg: Reisende Musiker in Neapel im späten 18. Jahrhundert: Adalbert Gyrowetz, Michael Kelly und Giacomo Gotifredo Ferrari.
Wolfgang Griep: Abbé Voglers musikalische Reisen.
Rudolf Rasch: Travel and publishing in 18th Century Europe.
Peter Cahn: Frankfurt als Station reisender Virtuosen im 18. Jahrhundert.
Session 3:
Michael Werner: Kommentar
Arnfried Edler: Reisende Organisten im späten 18. und in der ersten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts.
Christian Meyer: Ludwig van Beethovens imaginierte Englandreisen.
Beatrix Borchard: Reisende Künstlerinnen im 19. Jahrhundert: Fanny Hensel - Clara Wieck / Clara Schumann - Pauline Garcia / Pauline Viardot-Garcia.
Maria Rosa Moretti: Six jours d'une tournée européenne de Nicolo Paganini: 25-30 mai 1830 (Kassel-Göttingen-Kassel).
Laure Schnapper: Die Reisen Henri Hertzs.
Session 4:
Anselm Gerhard: Kommentar
Heinrich W. Schwab: Die Residenzstadt Kopenhagen als reiseziel ausländischer Virtuosen (18./19. Jahrhundert).
Antje Müller: Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdys Reisen nach Paris.
Hervé Lacombe: L'impact du voyage d'une troupe espagnole à Paris au milieu du XIXe siècle.
Manuela Schwartz: Die Reise nach Bayreuth.
Hans-Joachim Hinrichsen: Die Organisation der Reisen des Meininger Orchesters durch die Konzertagentur Wolf.
William Weber: Concerts Agents in the Career of Pianist Richard Buhlig, 1905-1916.
