| “...I do not deny that it would have been of exceptional pleasure as well as advantage to me if I could have had the opportunity to visit foreign lands.”This is how C.P.E Bach evaluated the importance of Grand Tour to a musician in the 18thcentury in his memoirs.Generally speaking,Grand Tour refers to a customary tour through Europe undertaken by young men from families with wealth and rank in the search of traditional art and culture.It served as a rite of passage for the upper classes and its typical itinerary has been thoroughly studied in the fields of politics,economics as well as other liberal arts disciplines.However,little research has been done on the contemporary musical works and activities?including the musical patrons,employment,tastes,and souvenirs?which were inevitably influenced by such a custom.Certain trips had no doubt become the direct cause for holding a celebration,concert,or even a musical duel and many musicians had benefited from it.Therefore,it may add some new details to the history of music from the perspective of the Grand Tour.This research aims to focus on a.)music events created by the trips when upper-class travellers?such as Friedrich von Uffenbach and Paul I of Ruassia?took musicians along on the tour and b.)the inspiration that professional musicians?Mozart,Mendelssohn?acquired from the trips that could make a difference to their musical preference and composing works. |
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