Understanding the Concert for Piano and Orchestra

This chapter considers the way in which the Concert for Piano and Orchestra has been interpreted by commentators, from musicologists and other composers to professional philosophical thinkers. It shows the way in which these interpretations played a part in the initial receptions of the piece, especially in Europe, made a major contribution to discussion of the nature of musical form in the context of openness, and became a significant part of later discussions regarding the nature and limits of the musical work.