The Intimate Virtuoso: Embodied Technique and Aesthetic Innovation in Maria Szymanowska's Études and Preludes (2025)
Abstract:
The article explores "feminine virtuosity" through the lens of Maria Szymanowska’s Études and Preludes (1820),
positioning Szymanowska within the historical evolution of études. It argues that her work redefines pianistic virtuosity by
emphasizing flexibility, multidimensionality, and expressive depth over power and clarity, shaped by her identity as a female musician in salon culture. Through score analysis, historical research, and performance-based interviews on a Conrad Graf fortepiano, the study highlights her ergonomic innovations. By restoring Szymanowska’s place in music history, the article challenges exclusionary canons and reconsiders the role of gender and embodiment in shaping pianistic literature.
Keywords— Maria Szymanowska, feminine virtuosity, études, piano literature, gender and music, 19th-Century Music
Journal Info
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How to Cite
Hongbo Cai. The Intimate Virtuoso: Embodied Technique and Aesthetic Innovation in Maria Szymanowska's Études and Preludes. Zenodo, Oct. 2025, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17434900.