Reconstructing Hanslick´s Aesthetics Analytically

Eduard Hanslicks treatise On the Musically Beautiful (OMB, 1854) is one of the most influential and debated treatises in the history of musical aesthetics, significantly shaping debates on musics nature and its relation to emotion. Published in the mid-nineteenth century, this seminal work garnered international attention, influencing the discourse of major philosophers of music and aesthetic thinkers. Despite its impact, interpretations of Hanslicks arguments remain strikingly diverse and often contradictory, leading to what Nicholas Cook aptly termed the most-talked-about and least-understood essay on the true nature of music. This research project aims to offer a groundbreaking analytical reconstruction of OMB, tackling longstanding issues surrounding its complex structure and elusive argumentation. The treatises non-linear compositionwhere chapters and ideas unfold in an order distinct from their presentationhas perpetuated misinterpretations, particularly in distinguishing Hanslicks views on musical form(s) and emotional expression. Through meticulous textual analysis, we will deconstruct OMBs logical fabric, examining its structure to reveal the intricate interplay of Hanslicks arguments. Central to this project is an innovative, dual-level approach. At the micro-level, we will scrutinize key concepts and their contextual evolution within chapters, uncovering how Hanslick reused and refined arguments across various editions. At the macro-level, we will trace the overarching trajectory of the treatise, exploring its genesis and development throughout the books chapters and editions. This combined approach will clarify Hanslicks nuanced positions on topics such as musics expressive properties, its formal qualities, and the role of performance, without explaining away ambiguities presented by Hanslicks arguments. The project will also leverage cutting-edge digital humanities tools, to be provided on the platform Hanslick Online (https://hanslick.acdh.oeaw.ac.at/), which already hosts a digital edition of all ten versions of OMB. Through a detailed textual commentary, visualization tools, timeline diagrams, and semantic search capabilities, researchers and the public alike will be in a position to engage with Hanslicks aesthetics in an accessible, interactive manner. These features promise to facilitate a nuanced and historically informed perspective that also bridges the gap between German- and English-language discourses. Expected outcomes of this research include a digital repository enriched with commentary and annotations, as well as a series of scholarly articles and lectures. By shining new light on Hanslicks arguments in their full complexity, we hope to reinvigorate Hanslick scholarship but also to enhance current debates in the aesthetics and philosophy of music.