Fortepian, albo plagi domowe. Paradoks gry na fortepianie w Warszawie na przełomie XIX i XX wieku
The Piano, or a domestic plague. The paradox of piano playing in Warsaw at the turn of the 19th and 20th century

Author(s): Marta Michalska
Subject(s): Modern Age, 16th Century, 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, Pre-WW I & WW I (1900 -1919), Interwar Period (1920 - 1939), WW II and following years (1940 - 1949), Post-War period (1950 - 1989), Transformation Period (1990 - 2010)
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: piano; Warsaw at the turn of the 19th and 20th century; aspiring middle class family; playing the instrument
Summary/Abstract: Why did domestic piano playing become a problem in the late 19th century? In this text I listen closely to complaints about the sounds of piano playing and analyse a multifaceted sonic phenomenon of a girl from a (aspiring) middle class family playing the instrument on a daily basis. I describe how the piano playing became an important part of middle class upbringing but also how it was being criticised, especially in the second part of the century. Most importantly, I focus on a girl and I ponder what role the piano could really play in her life. Following suggestions of Ruth A. Solie I claim that the piano was an important tool for emotional labour and emotion management, not only for the girl but also for the whole family.

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