V. P. Botkin on the creative work of Chopin and Beethoven

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Galina S. Lapshina

PhD in Philology, Associate Professor at the Chair of History of Russian Journalism and Literature, Faculty of Journalism, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

e-mail: gslapshina@gmail.com

Section: History of Journalism

The article revives the musical criticism articles of V. P. Botkin devoted to the works of F. Chopin and L. Beethoven, whose anniversaries cultural community celebrates worldwide this year. The author of present publication concentrates on the analysis of the Russian publicists’ texts as a real phenomenon of magazine journalism in 1840-1850s without ignoring their aesthetical, historical and musical aspects. The article deals with Botkin’s broad and integral views of culture development, it deals with the enlightening character of his publications devoted to the innovating works of Chopin. The article also concentrates on the significance of the critic’s materials in the light of the polemics concerning Beethoven’s legacy that were carried on in Russia.

Keywords: integral sight at culture, the appeal to the listener, new piano school, the content of a piece of music, national identity of music