Cultural Studies paper by Csató, Péter
Playing on the Beat: Hungarian Conductors Making American Sound (Accepted)
Type of Abstract (select):Abstract (max. 250 words):
My proposed paper focuses on two outstanding orchestra conductors of Hungarian origin, Fritz Reiner (1888-1963) and George Szell (1897-1970), and will discuss their association with what has come to be called “the American sound” in the symphonic jargon. A popular way of defining this particular type of sound by orchestra conductors and musicians has been to say that American orchestras tend to play “on the beat” as opposed to the European practice of playing “after the beat” – the former resulting in a bright, crisp, and energetic sound, while the latter producing more mellow, rounded, and darker timbres, such as those of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras. For most part of the twentieth century, the American sound was most emblematically associated with the Chicago Symphony and Cleveland Symphony Orchestras, which evolved into world-class ensembles under the direction of Reiner and Szell respectively. Their association with the American sound is all the more intriguing in light of the fact that the musical education of both Reiner and Szell were deeply rooted in the Central European tradition. In my presentation, I propose to discuss this topic in the context of cultural history in general and performance history in particular, rather than in that of musicology proper. Examining specific interpretations by Reiner and Szell of the music of L. v. Beethoven, Richard Strauss, and Béla Bartók, I wish to argue that their performative practice owes as much to the cultural milieu of their chosen country as to the musical heritage acquired in their native Europe.
Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Péter Csató is assistant professor and current chair of the North American Studies Department at the University of Debrecen, Hungary. He acquired his PhD degree in 2009 with his dissertation on the metaphoric of conversation in the work of American philosopher Richard Rorty. His academic interests include contemporary American fiction, literary and cultural theory, American and European philosophy, film studies, music history and musicology. Dr. Csató was a Fulbright Visiting Researcher at Cornell University in 2001-2002, as well as Fulbright Visiting Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2015. He has also taught at the University of Bristol, and St. Mary’s University London.