The professionalization of ballet accompanists and the change of instruments at the Paris Opera House (1807-1939)

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K12995
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 01050:Aesthetics and art studies-related
• Research Institution: Musashino Academia Musicae
• Principal Investigator: Sakata-Nagai Tamamo (永井玉藻) 武蔵野音楽大学, 音楽学部, 講師 (80836940)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: バレエ / パリ・オペラ座 / 伴奏者 / 歴史 / フランス / 芸術文化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examined the detailed information of individuals who were involved in ballet rehearsal accompaniment at the Paris Opera House for over a century, from 1807 to 1939. The aim was to elucidate the process of changes in the roles and responsibilities of ballet accompanists and the societal and aesthetic factors involved in these transitions through analysis. As a result of this research, three papers were published, two oral presentations were given at academic conferences, and a monograph summarizing the research was authored. The monograph received media coverage, including an article in newspapers, and a second edition was decided within four months of its release. Additionally, a series of articles related to the research topic has been published on web media since 2021, with a total of 24 instalments as of the present.

Free Research Field

美学および芸術論関連（音楽論）

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究課題は、従来の芸術学研究の枠組みを大きく超えた学際的な視点から、これまでは研究対象として周縁的な位置付けにあった劇場の「裏方」に着目した点と、その「裏方」に属するバレエ伴奏者の歴史を明らかにした点に、最大の学術的意義があるといえる。また、研究の総括として上梓した単著は、音楽・舞踊芸術分野のみならず、フランス文学や社会学など他分野の研究者、また一般の読者を含む幅広い層から支持を得ており、発売開始から4ヶ月で重版が決定した。