In the first half of the nineteenth century theaters all over Europe alternate Italian opera, magic tricks and masked balls, while parks and gardens on the outskirts of large cities organize concerts which gather various social classes in a new model of leisure and entertainment: the so-called society of the Spectacle.
The success of Jullien’s large concerts in London, Musard’s in Paris, an of Straus’s in Vienna is part of a new musical concept, while their leaders, who often assume the role of composers, conductors and performers become media stars, in the same sense this concept is currently given.
In several European cities, often with a combination of theater and artisans musicians, often related to the construction of instruments, touring orchestras are alo organized to offer fashionable dance around the big cities. The old figure of the violinist and dance teacher of eighteenth century transforms resulting in a core of strings (two violins and bass), to which are added two solo woodwind instruments (two flutes and two clarinets) and various brass instruments. The role of these violinists in these groups leave aside the melody and the solo role to become the rhythmic and harmonic foundation of polkas, waltzes and schotisch, with a sound that necessarily has to be imposed to the strength of the wind instruments.
The conference “Pop music in the nineteenth century and the role of the performers” will show several examples of this new documents and sounds of this popular music culture, with special attention to the strings. The recovery of the nineteenth century dance and performative analysis of this music begins to awaken interest in the international musicological community to open new and interesting research towards the first manifestations of contemporary pop music of the era.
Anna costal i Fornells is professor of Catalan Traditional Music and Catalan Music of the XIXth and XXth centuries at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC). She collaborates with the Robert Gerhard Center for the promotion and dissemination of the Catalan musical heritage. She also performs the tenora and is a member of the Cobla Vila d’Olesa. More information:http://www.esmuc.cat/Departaments/Musicologia/Professorat/Professorat-regular/Anna-Costal
