The 19th century was the Age of Nationalism. Communities were identified or construed as peoples, and states were built on that basis. People then shaped their (national) identities and – just as with language, food or clothing – they expressed that in music. In this course, we discover how patriotic sentiments were a source of inspiration for 19th-century artists, but also how music has been used and abused to further nationalistic ends.
Francis Maes: lecturer