Performing Civility: International Competitions in Classical Music

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Introduction
1. The rise and near demise of the international music competition
2. Competitions enter the civil sphere
3. Narrating the competition
4. The presentation of musical self
5. Producing sound judgments
6. Voicing opinions
Conclusion: what is the future of music competitions?
Appendix A. Selected competitions: facts and figures
Appendix B. Membership of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC), 1957-2012
Appendix C. Putting the 'performance perspective' in perspective.

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Although competitions in classical music have a long history, the number of contests has risen dramatically since the Second World War, all of them aiming to launch young artists' careers. This is not the symptom of marketization that it might appear to be. Despite the establishment of an international governing body, competitions are plagued by rumors of corruption, and even the most mathematically sophisticated voting system cannot quell accusations that the best talent is overlooked. Why do musicians take part? Why do audiences care so much about who wins? Performing Civility is the first book to address these questions. In this groundbreaking study, Lisa McCormick draws from firsthand observations of contests in Europe and the US, and in-depth interviews with competitors, jurors and directors, as well as blog data from competition observers to argue that competitions have endured because they are not only about music, they are also about civility.

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