History in mighty sounds

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Music was pivotal in shaping the self-identity of middle-class Germans from the March Revolution of 1848 to the First World War. While often considered 'universal' and apolitical, German music engaged in the historicist project of defining the nation's future through its national heritage. Compositions inspired by mythologized historical events and figures, such as the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest and Emperor Barbarossa, fostered both individual and collective identification, reviving a past that contrasted favorably with contemporary realities. This work explores the diverse 'invented traditions' and varied interpretations of 'Germanness' through compositions by well-known figures like Max Bruch and Carl Reinecke, alongside lesser-known contemporaries. The range of musical genres, including pre- and post-Wagnerian opera, popular choruses, and symphonic poems, offers fresh insights into how national identities were constructed and celebrated through music. It examines how artists adapted historical and literary sources, balanced aesthetic autonomy with political relevance, and how gender, landscape, and religion influenced their artistic choices. Each musical work is contextualized within its historical and biographical background, with connections to other arts and popular culture. This exploration is essential for those interested in nineteenth-century German music, history, and nationalism.