Towards the Institutionalization of Musical Life in Nineteenth-Century Greece and Southeastern Europe

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

This talk attempts to trace the evolutionary path towards the institutionalization of music life in 19th c. Greece, a new European state, just recovering and struggling to re-connect with the Western world after more than 400 years of Ottoman occupation. Greece constitutes an especially interesting case study, as it functioned as a cultural cross-roads between East and West within a geographically wide and culturally complex space at the Southeastern edge of Europe, characterised by a still resonant ottoman past and a fast pace of westernization. Within the area investigated, the gradual acquaintance with Western music is effectuated initially as a private activity, only later acquiring a public character through consecutive stages of institutionalization. My overview includes landmarks such as the foundation of musical and music-theatrical institutions, as the cultivation of art music became inherently connected with the development of theatrical activity, and in particular the diffusion of opera and musical theatre. Consequently, the trajectory of art music in Greece will be connected with the development of Greek urban life and the continuous trend for westernization which characterized the Greek 19th century. Additionally, this talk attempts to relate the path towards institutionalization with the developments in the cultural market in general, by examining factors which affect musical and theatrical activity in a decisive way, such as: the evolution of new social customs (evening entertainment), the introduction and establishment of musical education, the commercialization of art, and the gradually increasing professionalism of the performers and artists.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusSubmitted - 6 Jun 2018
EventInside, Outside, and in Between: Institutionalization in Music History. Fifth Sibelius Academy Symposium on Music History - Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland
Duration: 6 Jun 20188 Jun 2018
http://web.uniarts.fi/inst2018/sites.uniarts.fi/web/inst2018.html

Conference

ConferenceInside, Outside, and in Between: Institutionalization in Music History. Fifth Sibelius Academy Symposium on Music History
Country/TerritoryFinland
CityHelsinki
Period6/06/188/06/18
Internet address

Keywords

  • music
  • musicology
  • performance
  • performing arts
  • opera
  • Opera studies
  • History
  • music theatre
  • Creative industries
  • Institutionalization
  • Nineteenth century literature and culture
  • Nineteenth century music
  • Nineteenth century studies

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