READING OPERA BETWEEN THE LINES by Christopher Morris ( 9780521001977 )

Item Details

Title:

READING OPERA BETWEEN THE LINES
ORCHESTRAL INTERLUDES AND CULTURAL MEANING FROM WAGNER TO BERG

By:

Christopher Morris

Format:

Paperback

List price:

£33.99

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£29.74

Discount:

12.5% off

You save:

£4.25

ISBN 10:

0521001978

ISBN 13:

9780521001977

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Publisher:

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS

Pub. date:

30 March, 2007

Series:

New Perspectives in Music History and Criticism No. 8

Pages:

232

Description:

This book investigates the use of orchestral interludes to link scenes in Wagnerian and post-Wagnerian opera.

Synopsis:

A characteristic feature of Wagnerian and post-Wagnerian opera is the tendency to link scenes with numerous and often surprisingly lengthy orchestral interludes, frequently performed with the curtain closed. Often taken for granted or treated as a filler by audiences and critics, these interludes can take on very prominent roles, representing dream sequences, journeys and sexual encounters, and in some cases becoming a highlight of the opera. Christopher Morris investigates the implications of these important but strangely overlooked passages. Combining close readings of individual musical texts with an investigation of the critical discourse surrounding the operas, Morris shows how the interludes shed light not only on the representational and narrative capacities of the orchestra, but also on the supposed 'absolute' realm of instrumental music, a concept to which many critics appealed when they associated the interludes with 'purely musical' and 'symphonic' qualities.

Illustrations:

43 music examples

Publication:

Imprint:

Cambridge University Press

Returns:

Returnable

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