The Music Critic as Composer: The Songs of Eduard Hanslick

This CD marks the first-ever recording of the piano songs by Eduard Hanslick (1825-1904). Best known as the chief critic for the "Presse" and "Neue Freie Presse", Hanslick was a pivotal figure in nineteenth-century debates about the music of Anton Bruckner, Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, and the legitimacy of symphonic programme music. While his legacy as the author of the seminal treatise "On the Musically Beautiful" (1854) and as Vienna's first university professor of musicology-the earliest such position in German-language academia-have been studied before, his music remains largely unknown. This recording offers a fresh perspective on the artistic legacy of one of Europe's most influential musical figures of the nineteenth century.
The accompanying booklet includes the original song texts alongside their English translations, as well as information on the CD series, the research supporting this recording endeavour, and the performers, Barbora de Nunes-Cambraia and Radka D-di-ová. A QR code links to an open-access essay in English, authored by Anja Bunzel (Prague), Anthony Pryer (London), and Alexander Wilfing (Vienna). This essay explores Hanslick's multifaceted significance as a music critic, aesthetic theorist, historian, and composer, offering an in-depth analysis of the musical works featured on this CD. By surveying Hanslick's compositions in their historical context, we aim to spark greater interest in the creative activity of individuals who are often remembered more for critiquing music than for creating it.