Last Saturday, this year’s general assembly of the professional body Tonkünstlerverband Berlin took place, in which a new board has been elected. I am looking forward to supporting a promising and dynamic team with my work as a managing director. The board now consists of Kaan Bulak as the new chairman, Jens Domeyer as deputy chairman, Anne Katharina Uerlichs as secretary, Christian Höffling als treasurer, and Anna Barbara Kastelewicz and Richard Nordemalm as members-at-large. At the same time, Alf Schulze and Agnes Stein von Kamienski have left the board—many thanks to your valuable formative work in the association during the past years!
Flowing with Ravel
Cordial invitation to a fluid lecture recital, taking place as part of the semester topic »Musikmetropole Paris« of the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf. On Tuesday, 6 May, 7:30 pm, in the university’s chamber hall, I will be speaking about three of the most fascinating piano works of Maurice Ravel. I couldn’t come up with a more liquid title than »Im Fluss. Ravels Wassermusiken für Klavier: Jeux d’eau, Une barque sur l’océan, Ondine«. Performers at the piano will be Sukyeon Kim, Honoka Buyo, and Dingyuan Chang. Let’s see where the waves will take us—I’d be delighted to have your company!
Unraveling Ravel
Looking forward to teaching an analysis class on the piano music of Maurice Ravel during the forthcoming summer semester at Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf. In addition, I will be speaking in a lecture concert on Ravel’s water-inspired compositions on Tuesday, 6 May, 7:30 pm, in the school’s chamber music hall, where I will share my thoughts on Jeux d’eau, Une barque sur l’océan, and Ondine. This is going to be an immense pleasure, and the more so if you could manage to come along! #ravel150 #imfluss
On Admission Exams in Music Theory
The board of the Gesellschaft für Musiktheorie (GMTH) has published a statement on the MULEM-EX study of May 2024, a survey examining the current music teacher shortage in Germany by interviewing applicants and students of school music education. The results of the study suggest that admission exams in music theory and aural skills may have a discouraging effect; this is understood in such a way that music-theoretical content allegedly has a limited significance for assessing the general eligibility of applicants. The GMTH statement, in which I was involved, disputes these findings.
The authors of the study recommend that music theory admission exams in school music programmes be suspended in order to counteract the decreasing numbers of students. This is a controversial issue. In general, I would be open to such a measure, provided that its success is thoroughly evaluated. In order to prevent a decline of standards in music theory and aural skills, the corresponding topics would, if no longer examined in an admission test, need to be integrated in the curriculum. For example, an elementary music theory course could be introduced in the first year of study, and the acquisition of elementary competencies would be subject of the first module examination.
Engaging with Medtner and Pejačević
I have the pleasure of welcoming two invited guests to my current seminar on piano sonatas of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries at Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf. The pianists will perform repertoire of their own choice and discuss it with the students, while I will add some analytic remarks. Both sessions will be open for colleagues and friends, so if you happen to be in Düsseldorf and would like to come around, just let me know!
- Wednesday, 22 January, 9 am: Severin von Eckardstein will perform and talk about Nikolai Medtner‘s Piano Sonata in G minor, Op. 22
- Wednesday, 5 February, 9 am: Kyra Steckeweh will present both of Dora Pejačević‘s piano sonatas, Op. 36 in B-flat minor and Op. 57 in A-flat major