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Appogiature, revue d'études et d'informations musicales

(Paris, 1931-1933)

Prepared by Doris Pyee
Online only (2012)

Appogiature, revue d’études et d’informations musicales was published in Mulhouse from 15 January 1931 to February 1933. The publication was irregular: 10 issues in 1931, 6 in 1932 and a single one in 1933, in which the editor explains the cessation of the journal’s publication owing to the economical crisis. The entire journal comprises 437 one-column pages. Although its publication was short-lived, APP is worth our attention since it is the first French-language music journal established in an area where the Alsatian dialect was dominant, and where musical activities were largely ignored by other French music journals. Moreover, its reviews are most informative.

The journal editor is Philippe Strubin, a conductor whose aim was to promote contemporary music and to develop music education among the youth. Fellow conductors Felix Weingartner and Alfred Casella share in the journal their experience conducting children’s concerts. The journal's analytical articles and extensive reviews offer a wealth of information. Among topics covered are Aloys Hába’s theory about micro-tonal music, Arthur Honegger’s explanation of two of his compositions: Pacific 231 and Rugby; and Wanda Landowska’s role in the revival of early harpsichord music. Reviews in APP deal with recent recordings, musicological articles, new publications and performances. Of particular interest are reviews of articles covering a wide range of historical, analytical and theoretical topics published in various music journals such as Le Ménestrel, Le Monde musical, La Revue musicale, La Gazette musicale suisse, Dissonances, Die Musik and Schweizerische Musikzeitung. Thus diverse topics such as "Russian ballets", "The Evolution of Music since 1900", "Brahms as Pianist" and "Francesco Cavalli" are featured. Performance reviews include the Parisian premières of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G and of Arthur Milhaud’s historical opera Maximilien at the Académie Nationale de Musique. Performances at the Brussels La Monnaie Royal Theater, the Teatro alla Scala in Milan as well as in Vevey, Basel, Strasbourg and Mulhouse are included. Alfred Cortot’s master class on performing Beethoven’s thirty-two piano sonatas enrich the musical spectrum covered in APP.

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