From Air to Arrangement: The Evolution of Keyboard Music in Austen's Era | Laura Klein

In Austen’s novels, we encounter music in a variety of forms and scenes with the pianoforte at their center. While Austen doesn’t mention keyboard pieces by their titles, she alludes to one style in particular that 18th-century music in its popular and utilitarian manifestation: the “air.” An air can designate a variety of styles and forms but most commonly indicates a song-like vocal or instrumental tune. In Austen’s mentions, they are delineated as Scotch, Irish, or Italian airs and are played on the pianoforte for dancing or for entertainment purposes. By the turn of the 19th century, however, tunes were gradually evolving into larger musical forms, most commonly serving as the primary motive for sonata movements and sets of themes and variations. This is evident in the wealth of representations contained in Austen’s personal music collection. Through examining the music that she was practicing when she was writing, we gain…