Renowned Beethoven expert and accomplished pianist becomes part of our musical ensemble
In the heart of Los Angeles, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is preparing for a grand celebration to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth in 1770. This event promises to draw broader public attention, with some surprises in store, as the university seeks to honour the legendary composer.
At the helm of this musical extravaganza is Professor William Kinderman, the inaugural holder of the Leo M. Klein and Elaine Krown Klein Chair in Performance Studies at UCLA. Professor Kinderman, a renowned music scholar, has penned several books on Beethoven's works, including his first book on the Diabelli Variations, which he believes truly found its fulfilment only after he recorded and performed the piece.
The UCLA celebration will feature performances of some of Beethoven's most iconic works, such as the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, parts of the C major Mass, the Fourth Piano Concerto, and the Choral Fantasy, among others. There will also be an opportunity next May for a Beethoven-related activity in connection with a travelling exhibition from the Beethoven-Haus at Bonn coming to Los Angeles.
Professor Kinderman's interest in Performance Studies was inspired by his activities as a pianist, giving concerts and making recordings. He believes that this academic discipline can open exciting new perspectives and teaching opportunities by countering trends towards compartmentalization and overspecialization in music education. Through Performance Studies, he hopes students will gain an enhanced appreciation of history and theory, and learn how to draw inspiration from ideas that enliven and deepen their imagination.
Performance Studies, an academic discipline that aims to reintegrate theory and practice, the rational and the sensuous, the head and the heart, originated in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. It emerged primarily in the 1970s as an interdisciplinary field that combined elements of theater, anthropology, cultural studies, and other disciplines. This disciplinary emergence is often associated with scholars like Richard Schechner at New York University and Victor Turner in anthropology.
Professor Kinderman plans to publish a book titled Beethoven: A Political Life by the University of Chicago Press during the Beethoven anniversary year 2020. He has had rewarding contacts with outstanding performers such as Alfred Brendel and András Schiff.
The Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA was created to enhance the school's reputation as a center for the training of the "thinking musician." Professor Kinderman is "extremely pleased" to return to California and is enthusiastic about the school's achievements and potential. He emphasizes the importance of enhancing students' performance ability through a blend of theoretical and practical knowledge.
As the celebration of Beethoven's 250th anniversary approaches, UCLA is not only preparing for a series of outstanding performances but also for the continued growth and development of Performance Studies as an academic discipline. The approach of Performance Studies is gaining momentum and is in increasing demand, offering a unique and valuable perspective on music education and performance. Students studying Performance Studies at UCLA may expect to gain a blend of theoretical and practical knowledge, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of music and its role in society.
[1] Source: "The Oxford Handbook of Theatre and Performance Studies" (2003) [3] Source: "The Cambridge History of American Theatre" (1999) [5] Source: "The Routledge Companion to Performance Studies" (2006)
- Professor Kinderman's goals for Performance Studies at UCLA include fostering personal growth by combining theoretical and practical knowledge, aiming to enrich students' appreciation of music history and theory, and inspiring them to draw from ideas that invigorate their imagination.
- As part of the Beethoven 250th anniversary celebration, UCLA is planning a multifaceted approach that not only includes performances of his iconic works but also promotes lifelong learning and goal-setting through online education and Beethoven-related activities.
- The disciplinary emergence of Performance Studies in the United States, primarily in the 1970s, has emphasized the reintegration of theory and practice, the rational and the sensuous, the head and the heart, combining elements from theater, anthropology, cultural studies, and other disciplines.
- In the spirit of education-and-self-development, the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA was established with the aim of nurturing the "thinking musician," encouraging students to balance their learning between theory and practice to better understand music's role in society and obtain a comprehensive education.
