The Piano

The piano is a central fixture of European classical and contemporary music, an inheritor of centuries' worth of repertory and performance practice. In the past century, the instrument has amalgamated with various genres and spread to every corner of the world, becoming part of rich and varied musical communities. The seminar will provide a comprehensive understanding of the instrument, covering its design (mechanics, acoustics, and tuning) and the cultural contexts that inspired it, the repertory from the 18th century to the present, recital culture and pedagogy, and recent innovations such as prepared pianos and synthesizers.