An Empirical Analysis of Musical Expression in Recordings by Selected Cellists

This thesis aims to explain how recorded cello performance styles changed over the course of the 20th century, with particular reference to works by Brahms, J.S.Bach and Prokofiev. I show how reviews of these recordings changed over the same time scale. These changes are evidenced by a detailed empirical analysis of musical expression in selected cello recordings.

This study addresses the following issues:
• The reception trends of recordings: I investigate how reviews of these recordings changed over the same time scale and how the study of record reviews could play an integrated role in the empirical investigations into cello performance practice on record.
• Performance trends of Brahms: I consider whether any particular trends were detected in the handling of musical expression in performances of Brahms, including pedagogical similarities.
• Performance styles of Casals' interpretations of Bach and Rostropovich's of Prokofiev and whether any stylistic changes were shown.

An empirical analysis of musical expression in 20th-century cello playing on record reveals a number of issues in performance practice.