Beethoven Reconstructed

In the project Beethoven Reconstructed, pianist Emil Gryesten and music theorist Thomas Solak explore how so-called Schenkerian analysis – a body of theory and analytical techniques originally developed by Austrian music theorist Heinrich Schenker (1868-1935) – can contribute to an innovative interpretation and performance of the late piano sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven.

In a broader perspective, the project addresses the relationship between music theoretical studies, work interpretation and artistic practice. In working with the sonatas, Gryesten and Solak will try to put the influence of the performance tradition on hold for a while to make room for other approaches to the work. The core of the project is to explore how the transformation from theory to practice takes place – how analytical understanding and artistic expression come together in the realisation of the work.

The project is funded through a grant from the Ministry of Culture’s pool for artistic research.