Gender, Sex, and the Romantic Piano

A cultural history of the nineteenth-century piano that examines composers, performers, and musical works in the context of social and cultural events. Performance of piano music at students own level. Analysis of texts and images to consider how aesthetics and musical styles relate to social norms, sexuality, gender, spectatorship, and celebrity. No previous piano experience is necessary, but the ability to read musical notation (staff music) is strongly recommended; this skill will be assumed and will not be taught in the course. .