Recontextualizing Concert Experiences: 19th-Century Miscellaneous Formats and Improvisation
This joint presentation by Robert de Bree and Rebecca Huber examines the evolving nature of public concert experiences in the 19th century, with particular attention to the practice of miscellaneous programming and improvisation.
The nineteenth-century concert was characterized by a remarkable diversity of repertoire, frequent juxtapositions of established and contemporary works, and an openness to audience engagement and improvisatory practice. Robert de Bree will demonstrate potpourri improvisation to highlight the technical and creative demands placed upon instrumentalists of the era. Audience participation will further contextualize improvisation as a shared social experience within these historical frameworks.
Rebecca Huber’s research explores the curatorial strategies that shaped miscellaneous programming, analyzing how segmented and varied concert designs were used to foster engagement among audiences. She will be assisted by several students from her string quartet class, who will perform selected examples that illustrate these programming techniques and their impact on reception.
This presentation aims to deepen understanding of the complex and experimental strategies underlying nineteenth-century concert culture, reframing notions of performance practice, audience inclusion, and repertoire selection.
