Werktreues Dirigieren. An Beispielen großer Orchestermusik gelehrt von Peter Raabe. Historical-critical source edition

• Applicant: Dr. Lutz Felbick
• Subject Area: Musicology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 562197754

The historical-critical source edition of the manuscript "Werktreues Dirigieren An Beispielen großer Orchestermusik gelehrt Peter Raabe"§ is a demanding textbook for advanced studies of large orchestral works, written by Prof. Dr. Dr. Peter Raabe (1872-1945). In terms of content and scope, this is considered the main work of the musicologist and conductor. This makes basic material accessible, not only for Peter Raabe research, but also for further musicological research on performance practice and the concept of faithfulness to the work. Raabe's textbook also provides a detailed insight into the conducter’s workshop as an experienced orchestra conductor. The edition is of particular scholarly importance, as the author critically comments on all editions of Beethoven's and Brahms' symphonies available at the time, as well as orchestral works by Mozart, Schubert and Weber. In his remarks, Raabe allows important authors to have their say who, as composers, conductors, editors of classical orchestral literature or in the form of piano arrangements, have dealt with the works discussed here. Raabe responds to the interpretation suggestions he cites from these predecessors and contemporaries partly with enthusiastic approval, partly with harsh rejection. The manuscript "Werktreues Dirigieren" was handed over to the Aachen City Archives in 1977, where it has since then rested unnoticed by the public. At that time there was no academic work that had critically examined the conductor, musicologist and President of the Reich Music Chamber Peter Raabe. This changed with Nina Okrassa's dissertation published in 2004. Subsequently, other important sources on Raabe became known that Okrassa had not evaluated. Obviously, the framework set by Okrassa did not allow for an in-depth look at Raabe's main work, as this would have required a separate dissertation project. In 2015, the editor published a book on Raabe's controversial cultural policy activities, which attracted a great deal of attention in cultural policy research. The editor has supplemented this with further research on Raabe as part of the present source edition. The person of Peter Raabe and his literary activities can thus be presented in the critical commentary of this book as a supplement to Okrassa, as the previous desiderata are no longer available. Tracing Raabe's political development in the years 1935-1945 proves to be far more difficult than one might initially assume. This is evidenced not only by the publications mentioned here and the critical commentary, but also by the Wikipedia.de article on Peter Raabe written by the editor as the main author. Further source material is accessible there via links, which can contribute to an initial orientation.

• DFG Programme: Publication Grants