Mathis Lussy: a pioneer in studies of expressive performance

Single-authored book that forms the first volume of a new series titled 'Varia Musicologica' edited by the Austrian musicologist Peter Maria Krakauer. This is the first book since 1912 to be entirely devoted to the theories of the late nineteenth-century Swiss piano pedagogue and theorist Mathis Lussy, who proposed a highly original theory locating the source of expression in performance within the musical structures rather than solely in the inspired soul of the performing artist. In addition to presenting a comprehensive account of Lussy's theories of musical performance based on a survey of long-neglected archival sources and publications against the backdrop of 18th and 19thC psychology and aesthetics, the book argues that the roots of recent research in the psychology of musical performance can be found in Lussy's works. The book was reviewed in various music periodicals. In 2004 Dack discovered a small archive in Liestal, Switzerland, involving further unpublished materials by Lussy; she visited the archive in May 2005, and discovered interesting documents that provide important complementary material for the book on Lussy's theories. Dogantan-Dack is currently transcribing and translating the manuscripts she has copied, and will write an article for publication. Foremost amongst these are the unpublished editions of Polonaises by Chopin.