Music Theatre and the Holy Roman Empire

Packed full of new archival evidence that reveals the interconnected world of music theatre during the 'Classical era', this interdisciplinary study investigates key locations, genres, music, and musicians. Austin Glatthorn explores the extent to which the Holy Roman Empire delineated and networked a cultural entity that found expression through music for the German stage. He maps an extensive network of Central European theatres; reconstructs the repertoire they shared; and explores how print media, personal correspondence, and their dissemination shaped and regulated this music. He then investigates the development of German melodrama and examines how articulations of the Holy Roman Empire on the musical stage expressed imperial belonging. Glatthorn engages with the most recent historical interpretations of the Holy Roman Empire and offers quantitative, empirical analysis of repertoire supported by conventional close readings to illustrate a shared culture of music theatre that transcended traditional boundaries in music scholarship.

• Engages with the most recent historical interpretations of the Holy Roman Empire and early modern Germany to make them accessible to English-speaking music scholars
• Illustrates musical mobility during the period, showing how German music theatre spread across Europe via theatre troupes, postal networks and print media
• Combines quantitative, empirical analysis of repertoire over time with traditional close readings to build a new, more complete and nuanced account of the subject