著者

小岩 信治

出版者

東京芸術大学

雑誌

東京藝術大学音楽学部紀要 (ISSN:09148787)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.29, pp.A1-A16, 2003

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The Piano Concerto in A-Minor opus 85 by Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) belongs to the most successful works of this early romantic pianist. Composed in the late 1810s, performed throughout in Europe by Hummel himself, it soon became acknowledged as a masterpiece in this genre, which every young pianist should learn not only as one of their first performing pieces, but also as a guide for composition of their own piano concertos. Given this background it is understandable why the piano concertos of Frederic Chopin (1810-1849), for instance, sound remarkably similar to Hummel's A-Minor Concerto. Post mid-19th century, however, Hummel's opus 85 played an increasingly marginal role in the history of the piano concerto, particularly at public orchestral concerts, where new and symphonic piano concertos began to enjoy popularity. On the other hand, the value of this work as teaching model was never forgotten. At the conservatory in Leipzig, at that time one of the most influential institutions in Europe, it was still in great demand as one of the piano concertos that students should play at their first public performance. Koda Nobu (幸田延), who studied in Vienna from 1890-95, observed the obvious role of Hummel's piece in musical life: piano concerto for debut pianists. And afterwards, as professor of the Tokyo Academy of Music (東京音楽学校), sne introduced it as such. She selected it for the first documented performance of a piano concerto at the institution in 1901, with a second piano as accompaniment. For her first piano concerto performance with a full orchestra (1908) it was again selected. Furthermore it became tradition at the Tokyo academy for her students and their students to play it during (and particularly at the end of) their study. This lasted into the 1920s. It stands to reason that the custom of making students play Hummel's concerto resulted from the efforts of Koda and other European (particular German) guest professors at the academy in this period, who took it upon themselves to import European music culture as a whole. The establishment of this custom was evidence that their attempt succeeded. However, their endeavour and success was overlooked in the following decades, as Hummel's work was gradually perceived as out of date and old-fashioned, even among conservatories in Europe and Tokyo. This signified an end to the historical role of Hummel's Concerto in musical life. Although today's concertgoers do not know this piece, or even the name of Hummel, the performance history of his Concerto in A-Minor reflects the history of piano education. It is a piano concerto for debut performance, which transcended its time and geographical boundaries.