The Piano: how the viral appeal of pianists in public spaces is not so different from 19th-century music salons

By Stacy Olive Jarvis, PhD Candidate in in Musicology, University of Birmingham

Why have public displays of piano playing become so compelling? At railway stations, shopping centres and airports, an instrument usually associated with concert halls bursts into everyday life. In the space of a few moments, shoppers and passengers become an audience – and once a recording of the performance is posted online, this encounter can reach thousands or even millions of people.

TikTok pianists such as @umutpiano (Umut Cetin) skilfully exploit the tension between…

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