The Social and Religious Designs of J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concertos - Couverture rigide

Marissen, Michael

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0691037396 ISBN 13 : 9780691037394

Editeur : Princeton University Press, 1995

Synopsis

This new investigation of the Brandenburg Concertos explores musical, social, and religious implications of Bach's treatment of eighteenth-century musical hierarchies. By reference to contemporary music theory, to alternate notions of the meaning of "concerto," and to various eighteenth-century conventions of form and instrumentation, the book argues that the Brandenburg Concertos are better understood not as an arbitrary collection of unrelated examples of "pure" instrumental music, but rather as a carefully compiled and meaningfully organized set. It shows how Bach's concertos challenge (as opposed to reflect) existing musical and social hierarchies.


Careful consideration of Lutheran theology and Bach's documented understanding of it reveals, however, that his music should not be understood to call for progressive political action. One important message of Lutheranism, and, in this interpretation, of Bach's concertos, is that in the next world, the heavenly one, the hierarchies of the present world will no longer be necessary. Bach's music more likely instructs its listeners how to think about and spiritually cope with contemporary hierarchies than how to act upon them. In this sense, contrary to currently accepted views, Bach's concertos share with his extensive output of vocal music for the Lutheran liturgy an essentially religious character.

A propos du livre

À propos de l?auteur

Michael Marissen is Assistant Professor of Music at Swarthmore College. His most recent book is Lutheranism, Anti-Judaism, and Bach's "St. John Passion."

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Princeton University Press
• Date d'édition: 1995
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0691037396
• ISBN 13: 9780691037394
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 168
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible