Fortepianos and their Music : Germany, Austria, and England, 1760-1800

The pianoforte became increasingly popular during the later 18th century. This study explores the relationship between instruments, composers and performers in Austria, England and Germany at the time of Haydn, Mozart, Clementi and the young Beethoven.

Eighteenth-century pianos shaped and influenced the music that was written for them. However, although organological studies probe the instrument in ever more detail, and musical criticism focuses increasingly on the musical repertoire, the relationship between the two has not been properly examined.This book concentrates on the keyboard writing of the last third of the eighteenth century, as inspired by the fundamentally different constructions of the German/Viennese and the English pianoforte. The highly articulated languages of Mozart and his Viennese contemporaries, and the more robust, pre-romantic style of Duzzek and his London colleagues reflect the very characteristics of these respective instruments. Beyond the scrutiny of the music, attention is given also to the players. The differentiation between professionals and amateurs is addressed, and contemporary sources help provide a description of late-eighteenth-century performing styles; such a survey offers new insight into the living art of the pianoforte during a most important period in its history.