The research project “Beethovens Werkstatt” is intended as a contribution to basic musicological research. Methods, concepts and digital components developed in this project using the example of Beethoven are meant to be transferable to other composers. In my paper, I choose Robert Schumann as an example to test this transferability. Concepts that were developed in the course of the first module of “Beethovens Werkstatt” aim at the reconstruction and digital representation of genetic variants. They are based on research on the composer’s work processes. Fundamental aspects of this research include, for example, the temporality of the writing process; the composer’s self-critical dialogue with what he has already written; the work routines that may lie behind it (can certain compositional strategies be derived from them?). These questions are not only specific to Beethoven. They can generally be asked in connection with other composers. However, a prerequisite for an insightful research is a good record of handwritten texts and manuscripts. Due to the rich source material and Schumann’s habit of documenting many details in his diaries and working manuscripts, a text-genetic and digital analysis of his working methods is particularly suitable.

Unter dem Motto „Palestrina und seine Zeit – Traditionelle und digitale Forschungsperspektiven“ fand am 22. & 23. April 2021 ein internationales Online-Symposium zu Ehren von Prof. Dr. Peter Ackermann statt, der nach 25 Jahren an der Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main in den Ruhestand gegangen ist. Die Beschäftigung sowohl mit Palestrina als auch mit digitalen Forschungsmethoden zieht sich wie ein roter Faden durch Ackermanns wissenschaftlichen Lebenslauf und so lag es nahe, beides bei dem Symposium zusammenzubringen. Die Vortragsthemen, die sich in diesem Band in schriftlicher Form wiederfinden, reichen von aktuellen Studien zu Palestrinas Werken und deren Rezeptionsgeschichte bis hin zu digitalen Analysetools und Grundsatzfragen bezüglich Digitalität in der Musikwissenschaft. / Under the title 'Palestrina and His Time - Traditional and Digital Research Perspectives', an international online symposium was held on 22 & 23 April 2021 in honour of Prof. Dr. Peter Ackermann, who retired after 25 years at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. Both Palestrina and digital research methods runs are recurring themes in Ackermann's academic curriculum vitae, and so it made sense to bring the two together at the symposium. The lecture topics, which are presented here in written form, range from current studies on Palestrina's works and their reception history to digital analysis tools and fundamental questions regarding digitality in musicology.