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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Così Fan Tutte: Brilliance Or Buffoonery?, Sarah Whitfield
Così Fan Tutte: Brilliance Or Buffoonery?, Sarah Whitfield
Musical Offerings
Hardly any opera has endured more scrutiny and self-preserving apology than Mozart’s Così fan tutte. Flagrant opposition and a long string of “rescue” attempts shroud the receptive history of the work. Since its premiere, Così fan tutte has long been recognized as a problem opera. Many critics found it implausible that Mozart—the consummate composer and man that warranted their idolization—could have stooped so low as to agree to such an immoral plot. The great beauty in Mozart’s musical parody is that it at once mocks and transforms the supposed superficial experiment of Lorenzo Da Ponte’s libretto. The parody in …
From Mozart To Lookout: The Flute’S Evolution From 1800, Anna J. Reisenweaver
From Mozart To Lookout: The Flute’S Evolution From 1800, Anna J. Reisenweaver
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As this brief survey of the flute’s history and repertoire reveals, the instrument evolved significantly over the centuries. From works such as Mozart’s Concerto in G to Robert Dick’s Lookout, from the single-keyed, four-piece flute of Jacob Denner to the highly complex mechanism of Alexander Murray, the flute’s growth has been dramatic and extensive. While some of its technical changes were the result of new styles of repertoire, other innovations spurred musical developments as the instrument’s capabilities expanded. As both the instrument and its repertoire grew simultaneously, the flute solidified its standing as in the classical tradition both a solo …
The Development Of The Flute As A Solo Instrument From The Medieval To The Baroque Era, Anna J. Reisenweaver
The Development Of The Flute As A Solo Instrument From The Medieval To The Baroque Era, Anna J. Reisenweaver
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As one of the oldest instruments known to mankind, the flute is present in some form in nearly every culture and ethnic group in the world. However, in Western music in particular, the flute has taken its place as an important part of musical culture, both as a solo and an ensemble instrument. The flute has also undergone its most significant technological developments in Western musical culture, moving from the bone keyless flutes of the Prehistoric era to the gold and silver instruments known to performers today. During the Renaissance and Baroque periods in particular, however, the flute rose to …
The Theory Of Silence, David R. Kauffman
The Theory Of Silence, David R. Kauffman
Musical Offerings
It is quite possible that no piece of music has ever generated the conversation and debate as 4’33.” Written in 1952, this three-movement piece, in which the performer makes no audible sounds, opened up a brand new debate over what elements constitute music. Many musicians, disgusted at the lack of sound, have dismissed Cage’s landmark piece as a joke, something Cage himself was fearful of. It is assumed that a piece like 4’33” is a mindless stunt designed to bring attention to a composer while undermining the Western music tradition. Instead of advancing musical ideas, 4’33” has taken away all …