New Perspectives of the Research Of Galant Style in Musical Culture: The Concept of Robert O. Gjerdingen

Abstract

The paper covers the latest discoveries in the field of the 18th-century musical culture, in particular, the role of partimento in the development of the galant style. The established notions of the professional community about the phenomenon of galant music have changed significantly over the past few decades. The discoveries proposed by European and American researchers of musical culture enable rethinking the role and meaning of the galant style, and, accordingly, evaluating the work of composers of the 1720s–1780s. In particular, the newest concept of Robert O. Gjerdingen is based on the idea of cognitive schemes. The researcher proposes to view the methodological basis of music-making in the galant style through a special practice of improvisation—partimento. This practice was the basis of the process of musical training during the period: it was the work on partimento that guaranteed the improvement of compositional and performing techniques, the possibility of integrating a broad arsenal of current compositional idioms into one’s performing practice and, ultimately, understanding the specifics of musical creativity as such. Hence, the practice of partimento music may be considered a key factor in the development of the specifics of galant music.