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Good Reverberations? Teacher Influence in Music Composition since 1450

Author

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  • Karol Jan Borowiecki

Abstract

Teachers and mentors in creative fields shape their students’ skills and views of the craft and thus the work they produce. How significant and persistent is this influence? Are there consequences for the variety and quality of students’ inventive output? We study these questions in the context of Western music composition over five centuries, during which musical lineages are well documented, the content of composers’ work can be directly compared, and its lasting value can be measured. We find strong evidence of influence, document when it arises and persists, and evaluate its consequences. The results provide insight into where creative ideas come from, why certain ideas get produced as opposed to others, and what the ramifications might be.

Suggested Citation

  • Karol Jan Borowiecki, 2022. "Good Reverberations? Teacher Influence in Music Composition since 1450," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 130(4), pages 991-1090.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/718370
    DOI: 10.1086/718370
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    Cited by:

    1. Winichakul, K. Pun & Zhang, Ning, 2024. "Enter stage left: Immigration and the American arts," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 329-347.
    2. Federico Etro, 2025. "An Economic Theory of Art History," Working Papers - Economics wp2025_21.rdf, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze per l'Economia e l'Impresa.
    3. Julius Koschnick, 2025. "Teacher-directed scientific change:The case of the English Scientific Revolution," Working Papers 0274, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    4. Cox, Gary W. & Figueroa, Valentin, 2025. "Agglomeration and creativity in early modern Britain," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    5. Borowiecki, Karol Jan & Kristensen, Martin Hørlyk & Law, Marc T., 2025. "Where are the female composers? Human capital and gender inequality in music history," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    6. Karol Jan Borowiecki & Martin Hørlyk Kristensen & Marc T. Law, 2025. "What’s in a Name? Dynasties, Selection, and Talent Allocation Among Classical Composers," ACEI Working Paper Series AWP-03-2025, Association for Cultural Economics International.
    7. Karol Jan Borowiecki & Caterina Adelaide Mauri, 2024. "Originality, influence, and success: a model of creative style," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 48(2), pages 221-258, June.
    8. Etro, Federico, 2024. "Art and Markets in the Greco-Roman World," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 84(2), pages 432-478, June.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • N30 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • Z11 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economics of the Arts and Literature

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