Friedemann Pestel

Friedemann Pestel is currently holding a professorship at the Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, University of Tübingen, where he represents the chair of Prof. Dr. Jan C. Jansen from Summer Semester 2024 to Summer Semester 2025. Previously, he served as a Research Assistant at the Chair of Modern and Contemporary History of Western Europe at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg from 2013 to 2024.

Dr. Pestel completed his habilitation in Modern and Contemporary History in 2022, earning the Venia Legendi. His academic journey includes:

• PhD (Promotion) in 2013
• 1. Staatsexamen for teaching at gymnasiums in History and French in 2009
• Studies in History, Romance Studies (French, Italian), and Educational Sciences at Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (2004-2009)
• Study period at École normale supérieure in Paris (2006-2007)

Friedemann Pestel's research spans multiple interconnected fields of historical inquiry with a focus on transnational and global perspectives. His work examines European and Atlantic history from the 18th to 21st centuries, particularly the Age of Revolutions (1770-1850), the history of the music industry and musician mobility, political migration and counter-revolution, European conceptual history, compensation history, transnational history, cultural transfer, and memory studies. His habilitation project 'Global Players: Orchestra Tours and the International Music Industry in the 20th Century' exemplifies his interdisciplinary approach, investigating how orchestras functioned as key institutions in the globalization of classical music.

Analysis of Pestel's recent scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on transnational historical processes, particularly examining music as a lens for understanding broader political, economic, and cultural dynamics. His work frequently explores how musical institutions and practices intersect with political regimes, national identities, and international relations across the long 19th and 20th centuries. Recent publications demonstrate increasing engagement with global and postcolonial perspectives, particularly in studies of Haitian history and Atlantic world connections.

Dr. Pestel has received numerous prestigious awards and fellowships, including:

• Karl-Ferdinand-Werner-Fellow at the German Historical Institute Paris (2024)
• Guest Scholar at the Pacific Regional Office of the German Historical Institute Washington (2022/23)
• Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (2022/23)
• Junior Fellow at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS) (2020/21)
• Stipendiat in the Elite Program for Postdocs of the Baden-Württemberg Foundation (2019-2022)

As an active researcher and educator, Pestel has organized numerous conferences and workshops on transnational history, musical globalization, and European memory. He has also curated exhibitions, including 'Vienna and New York: 175 Years of Two Philharmonics' (2017-2018). His teaching covers diverse topics including the Age of Revolutions, European integration history, political violence, and memory studies. Pestel collaborates extensively with international scholars, particularly through projects examining global musical connections and European memory politics.