Sholl, Robert (2014) Educating Isaac. In: Educating Isaac, 27 April 2014, BBC Radio on iPlayer.

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Abstract

Educating Isaac including an interview with Robert Sholl
Sunday Feature

Could your child compose like Mozart? While searching for a creative and fun way to teach his 3-year-old son, Nick Baragwanath discovered a forgotten history of music completely different from the usual dull routine of practice and graded exams. In the 18th century, the conservatoires (orphanages) of Naples developed an education system that enabled destitute children to become professional-level composers and performers by their early teens. Almost every famous musician of the time was trained in this way, in what is an astonishing untold rags-to-riches story. Airbrushed from history by Romantic writers, who valued the idea of spontaneous genius above the reality of craft training, the real story of ?classical? music is finally coming to light. And modern conservatoires, such as the Royal Academy of Music, are taking notice. Could this revival transform the way we teach children music?

The 18th century is widely regarded as a golden age for European music, producing Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. But it is often forgotten that professional music-making was dominated by Italians, especially those trained at one of the Neapolitan orphanage-conservatories. How many music lovers today could name even one of the 'big four' put forward by Charles Burney in 1770: Jommelli, Galuppi, Piccinni and Sacchini? Not to mention others such as Pergolesi, Scarlatti, Paisiello, Cimarosa, etc.

They stand witness to an incredible rags-to-riches story, testament to the egalitarian ideals of the enlightenment.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Other)
Subjects:	Music Music > Music performance Music > Musicology
Depositing User:	Robert Sholl
Date Deposited:	14 Jun 2018 08:30
Last Modified:	28 Aug 2021 07:26
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/5169

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