In this episode of Learn Piano: A Personal Practice, we explore how historical context directly shapes musical artistry. Rather than treating music as a collection of notes, we look at the deeper questions that guide expressive playing: when a piece was written, where it was written, who composed it, the musical era it comes from, and the setting and audience it was written for. Using Prelude in C Major by Johann Sebastian Bach as our first example, we examine the Baroque period and its musical conventions, including steady rhythm, clarity, structure, and restraint. Understanding Bach’s role as a composer working under church and court patronage in Germany helps us approach this piece with intention rather than over-romanticizing it. We then contrast this with Venetian Gondola Song No. 1 by Felix Mendelssohn, written in the early Romantic era. Inspired by Venetian gondoliers, this piece calls for warmth, lyricism, and expressive rubato. Playing it with the same rigid approach as a Baroque prelude would strip it of its character entirely. Through these two contrasting examples, this episode shows why historical awareness is not academic trivia, but a practical tool for shaping sound, expression, and artistry at the piano. Next week, we continue the conversation by exploring how the instrument itself—the piano—can influence and shape musical artistry. Subscribe here: https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/podcast You will receive updates on podcasts and book club info too. For upcoming classes for 2026, you can find details here: https://www.cynthiaalistudios.com/pianocommunity Copyright © 2025 Cynthia Ali Studios LLC. All rights reserved. The music in this podcast is either public domain,original, or used under Fair Use for educational purposes. Any third-party content is used for commentary, criticism, or education and does not infringe upon original creators' rights. (contact@cynthiaalistudios.com) The views expressed are those of the host(s) and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of Cynthia Ali Studios LLC.
