scholarly journals G. Ph. Telemann’s Concertos for Four Violins withoutbassocontinuoin the aspect of onomatopoeic and figurative rhetoric

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (24) ◽  
pp. 54-70
Author(s):  
Kholodkova Olena

Statement of the problem. In musicology there has long been a tacit belief that Baroque music is the music of rhetoric, rhetorical figures and affects. In Baroque aesthetics, rhetoric, which is an important element of Baroque poetics, is perceived as an integral part of the content of a musical piece that together with form, harmony, counterpoint and musical expression form its integral substance. The study of Baroque music from the perspective of the rhetorical aspect gives a clearer comprehension of the work, understanding the context, and the competent interpretation of the composer’s idea. Analysis of recent research and publication. The theoretical assumptions of this article are based both on historical treatises (M. Praetorius, Ch. Bernhard, J. Mattheson) and authoritative works of researchers who studied theoretical issues of historically informed performance of the late XX – early XXI century (D. Bartel, L. Dreyfus), including relatively new works (M. Zgółka, P. Zawistowski, A. Mocek). M. Zgółka (2016) adopts a rather traditional approach to rhetoric, which operates with rhetorical figures and affects, and at the same time offers an innovative division of rhetoric into three varieties. Referring to the most important treatises L. Dreyfus (2004) makes us think about the relevance of making parallels between oratory and musical rhetoric highlighting common features and differences. A. Mocek’s (2019) view on musical rhetoric and on the studies devoted to it is quite critical. The main objective of the study is to examine G. Ph. Telemann’s Concertos for Four Violins without basso continuo from the perspective of figurative and onomatopoeic rhetoric. The scientific novelty. In this research for the first time, Telemann’s Concertos were analyzed from the perspective of onomatopoeic and figurative rhetoric. The concept of division of rhetoric into three categories (onomatopoeic, figurative, symbolically mystical) was proposed by the Polish violinist and theorist M. Zgółka (2016). The author uses the following methods in this research: historical, typological, comparative and structural-functional analysis. Results. The analysis of four concertos demonstrates that G. Ph. Telemann uses not only figurative type of rhetoric but also onomatopoeic, successfully combining these two categories. In comparison with, for example, A. Vivaldi or H. I. F. von Biber, the palette of sound imitative techniques in the concertos of G. Ph. Telemann is not so diverse and comprehensive, however, elements of onomatopoeic rhetoric can be found both in fast and slow movements: sound of organ or bells as well as sound images of nature. The composer does not refuse from the elements of figurative rhetoric. Like in his duo sonatas, these are mainly represented by figures that describe a melodic motion. Such techniques are often found in polyphonic quick movements. In the lyrical slow movements, similarly to the duo sonatas, harmony, polyphony and intervals are brought to the fore. Conclusions. G. Ph. Telemann’s cycle of Concertos for Four Violins without continuo is an interesting example of chamber music not only in terms of composition but also from the view point of the usage and combination of various types of musical rhetoric. Knowledge of the rhetorical component brings researchers and performers to a new, more comprehensive level of understanding of the composer’s music, allowing us to consider the emotional content not only of the work as a whole, but also of each single intonation.

Author(s):  
Nataliia Horetska

Background, objectives and methodology of the research. Musical performing art of the XX–XXI centuries demonstrates a steady and growing interest in a huge array of music from pre-classical eras – the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque. The baroque music occupies a leading position in the field of instrumental performing as an obligatory part of the educational (works by J. S. Bach) and concert repertoire. The problem of interpretation of early music, acutely posed by musicians of the XX century – up to the reconstruction of all historical performance parameters – retains its relevance. In this regard, we note that the performance of a piece of music does not always make off the strongest impression precisely in its “primary” – restored – form, since reconstruction is limited by the volume of our historical knowledge, while modern musical instruments have a much wider range of expressiveness, than theirs historical predecessors, and the modern interpreter – “de facto”, due to his location in the historical space – a much richer thesaurus. So, the aim of this article is systematization, from the standpoint of the teaching experience of its author in the piano class, observations and practical recommendations regarding the style of performing of ancient instrumental music and approaches to its interpretation by a pianist on an instrument of modern construction. The methodology of the study includes an appeal to the intonation theory of B. Asafiev (1971), when considering the dynamic processes of formation of the musical form and the functioning of articulatory units – motifs, phrases, rhetorical figures, strokes, etc.; to the provisions of the works of M. Mikhailov (1981), E. Nazaikinskiy (2003), O. Katrich (2000) concerning the theory of styles; V. Kholopova (1979) and G. Ignatchenko (1983), when considering performance techniques that emphasize the originality of the texture of baroque music; as well as generally accepted methods of scientific research: analysis, selection, structuring of information with its subsequent generalization. Presentation of research results. The study of ancient instrumental music in the piano class is extremely important for the formation of a competent specialist, a musician of a wide range. In the cognitive process, such stages must be passed as determining the style, genre, form of the musical work, identifying the features of the musically expressive means used in it and finding appropriate ways to embody them. It is necessary to make as complete an idea as possible of the past historical epoch, its philosophy, aesthetics, different types of art and their interaction. The purpose of work on pieces of ancient music should be directing а performer to the general laws of “style of the era” (according to M. Mikhailov, 1981), because, despite national differences, by the middle of the XVIII century, a certain “panEuropean” style was formed, which was of great importance for the formation of the next generations of musicians. One of the brightest manifestations of the musical style of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries is a close connection between music and the art of rhetoric. When referring to ancient music, performers must take into account the enormous influence that rhetoric had on the formation of musical thinking at that time. The close relationship of the latter with the oratory, which is based on a set of laws and rules, led to the influence of musical-rhetorical figures on the semantics of musical language, and, consequently – on the intonation-declamation sphere of musical text, ways of articulation. The latter were largely determined by the design features of ancient tools. The variety of characteristic techniques of instrumental sound production – expressive touches, among which a special place was occupied by the string strokes (legato, detache, martele, etc.) – has become an integral part of the style of European music of the XVII–XVIII centuries. Transferring them to the field of piano technique is necessary for adequate interpretation of works of this period, requiring the pianist to find appropriate analogues that allow to some extent to reproduce the figurative, articulatory, timbre-color, texture characteristics of the performed work. Modern piano, which due to a fundamentally different method of sound production does not claim to be an authentic reproduction of baroque music, has its own rich arsenal of expressiveness, which allows you to offer the listener no less interesting interpretive content of music of past eras. The art of outstanding pianists of the XX–XXI centuries, to whose audio and video recordings modern performers turn in search of a reference sound (G. Gould, S. Richter, S. Feinberg, T. Nikolaeva, M.Argerich, F. Gulda, G. Sokolov, A. Schiff and others) demonstrates this fact clearly. Conclusions. Not reconstruction, but reproduction of the style, image and spirit of early music becomes the leading principle of working on it in the piano class. And here the pianist should come to the aid of a conscious intonation, based on knowledge of both the general laws of the reproduced style and its characteristic details. The outstanding interpreter of early music V. Landowska (1991: 350) wrote: “One cannot ignore the reading of Quantz’s treatises on playing the flute, Leopold Mozart on the violin, Tosi-Agricola on singing, François Couperin, Rameau, Frescobaldi, Marpurg, K. F. E. Bach and many others – about playing keyboard instruments”. Finding “unexpected treasures” in them, “the disciples are delighted, because they begin to realize what they simply did not pay attention to before. In such cases, you find yourself witnessing an explosion of joy, somewhat reminiscent of the discovery of love”.


Notes ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 383
Author(s):  
David Yearsley ◽  
Dietrich Bartel

Music ◽  
2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Carter

“Baroque” is a style-period in music conventionally identified as the 17th century and the first half of the 18th, i.e., from Claudio Monteverdi (b. 1567–d. 1643) to J. S. Bach (b. 1685–d. 1750) and Handel (b. 1685–d. 1759). It is often divided into “early” (1600–1640), “middle” (1640–1690), and “high” (1690–1750) phases. These various chronological boundaries remain fuzzy, however, and also reflect the prejudices of German and Anglo-American scholarship that might not appeal to, say, French admirers of their musique classique from Jean-Baptiste Lully to Jean-Philippe Rameau, or Spanish devotees of the siglo de oro up to the death of Pedro Calderón de la Barca (1681). Given that many characteristics of early Baroque music can be traced to aesthetic attitudes and performance practices typical of the late Renaissance, it is common to take the beginnings of Baroque music back to 1580 or so. When the Baroque period ends is a much more problematic question, depending on where one situates the so-called Rococo and style galant (e.g., of Rameau or Georg Philipp Telemann), the Empfindsamer Stil (e.g., of C. P. E. Bach), or the pre-Classical style of, say, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi and Johann Adolf Hasse. Baroque music is often characterized by one or more of the following: harmonic (vertical) thinking, musical rhetoric and affective text expression, elaborate ornamentation, newly codified genres and forms, the emergence of functional tonality, and the rise of the virtuoso. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (in his Dictionnaire de musique, 1768), writing from the rather smug viewpoint of the French Enlightenment, claimed that “a baroque music is that in which the harmony is confused, charged with modulations and dissonances, the melody is harsh and little natural, the intonation difficult, and the movement constrained.” Modern scholars and performers would disagree, and the current entry, introducing the fundamental texts in the field and its subdivisions, seeks to make some sense of just what Baroque music might be. It does not include composer studies, which can be found separately in Oxford Bibliographies.


Notes ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 502
Author(s):  
Kent Underwood ◽  
Tharald Borgir ◽  
Nigel North
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Dmytro Savon

Relevance and scientific novelty of the selected topic of the research. The issues of the performance of J. S. Bach's motets has not been considered in Ukrainian musicology before, and in creative practice it has been decided unequivocally: choirs sang motets a cappella. However, in the world practice of motets today there are three variants of performance: in addition to singing unaccompanied, motets are performed with basso continuo (organ), as well as with basso continuo accompanied by instruments that duplicate choral parts (colla parte). The revision of performance approaches in world concert practice took place in parallel and, apparently, due to scientific achievements in the history of music, source studies and related fields. Cognitive was the discussion of the performance of Bach's motets, which for a long time (since 1904) unfolded in the Germanspeaking musicological environment. A thorough analysis of the historical context, the text of the motets, the connection with the performing practice, and on the other hand — the limited opportunity to get acquainted with German-language materials determine the relevance of this article, which systematizes the arguments and counterarguments of this controversy. The aim of the article is to consider the arguments of German scientists (Konrad Ameln, Klaus Hofmann, Alfred Heuss and others) on the tradition of performances of motets by J. S. Bach, to draw the attention of the performing and scientific community to the possibility of the existence of different versions of the performing composition in these works; emphasize the need for a performing search in the field of baroque music, in particular, in those aspects, which in the classicalromantic tradition are considered unambiguously fixed in the musical text. The following methods were used in the study: historical (analysed the dynamics of changes in the performing tradition of Bach's motets), the method of generalization (based on the study of musicological literature generalized arguments in favour of three types of performing motets). Main results and conclusions. Based on the analysis of information from German-language musicological research, it is stated that in the time of Bach there were three types of performance for his motets: 1) a cappella, 2) with basso continuo, 3) with basso continuo and instruments colla parte. Arguments for each type are systematized depending on whether they come from the study of historical context (external) or based on the study of the original musical text of motets (internal). It is noted that the plurality of variants of the performance composition allowed in today's practice should be realized by the conductor, who should not unconditionally accept the performance version proposed in the motets edition as the only correct one. The choice of performance is made by the conductor depending on the specifics of the performance situation.


Menotyra ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Pister

The article discusses Johann Kuhnau’s fourth keyboard sonata, Der todtkranke und wieder gesunde Hiskias (The Mortally Ill and Then Restored Hezekiah), from his last volume of six keyboard sonatas published in Leipzig in 1700, known popularly as “Biblical Sonatas.” Titled as Musicalische Vorstellung einiger biblischer Historien (Musical Representation of Several Biblical Stories), the set presents a remarkably thorough and detailed musical depiction of selected scenes from the Old Testament. This is also a rare collection of keyboard music to provide a detailed narrative commentary, consisting of verbal synopses of selected stories in German, which preface each sonata, and commentaries in Italian written into notation, which underline portrayed situations, events and affections. To examine the plot-based narrative underlying the storyline of this particular sonata, some authentic discourses have been taken into consideration for analytical purposes. These included the composer’s foreword to the collection of his “Biblical Sonatas,” synopsis of the story depicted in the fourth sonata, and a comprehensive theory of musical rhetoric and the doctrine of the affections found in various 17th and 18th century sources. In this article, the author specifies distinct musical-rhetorical figures that resemble (by analogy) or refer to certain extra-musical objects or phenomena and serve as vehicles for creating different moods and establishing the atmosphere. Depending on which narrative element – action or affections – is brought into focus in each of the six sonatas, the author distinguishes between two types of sonatas, namely ‘action sonatas’ and ‘affective sonatas.’ Affections and shifts in mood experienced by Hezekiah make an important narrative element in the storyline of the fourth sonata. Hence this particular sonata falls under the category of ‘affective sonatas.’ The analysis of this sonata revealed that the narrative is constructed therein in several layers. Firstly, there is a verbal layer: to depict the story in detail and with much consistency, the composer thought it necessary to accompany notation with the synopsis of the story and verbal commentaries. Moreover, quotations from the Protestant chorale Ach Herr mich armen Sünder (Ah Lord, poor sinner that I am) imply verbal connotations of their verses. Secondly, it contains a musical-affective layer: musical devices (such as musical-rhetorical figures, key, rhythm, metre, and the like) are employed there to convey the indicated affections, such as wailing (lamento) or, in other words, sorrow, confidence (confidenza) and joy (allegrezza). The author observes that many compositional choices made by Kuhnau adhere to the standard methods of expressing affects as they were defined in the Baroque treatises. Thirdly, there is an associative layer: certain fragments and elements resemble (by analogy) and refer to extra-musical objects and/or phenomena, such as Belshazzar’s face turning pale and his limbs trembling in terror, the sesquialtera ratio (3:2), which symbolizes the numerical proportion of steps on Ahaz’s sundial and the years of Hezekiah’s life. The alternating musical textures, normally associated with sadness (adagio) and merriment (allegro), can be also mentioned as a characteristic narrative feature in this sonata. Although Kuhnau claimed to have depicted Biblical stories according to his own imagination, the analysis revealed that his writing in this sonata does not veer away from the typical musical vocabulary of the Baroque era, which nowadays requires a more sensitive ear and keener insight into compositional conventions of the period.


Sympozjum ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1 (40)) ◽  
pp. 83-102
Author(s):  
Renata Borowiecka

The Stabat Mater sequence in Italian musical interpretations of the 18th-century The Stabat Mater poem, which describes the suffering of Blessed Virgin Mary under the cross on which Jesus – her Son – is dying, has become a universal theme which inspired composers of various ages and origins and found its expression in numerous musical interpretations. From among over 400 compositions which set the text of the sequence to music, a large proportion are 18th-century works (mostly – late baroque) of Italian provenience. Attempting to interpret a musical composition with text of the 18th century, one has to take into account the theory of affects and musical rhetoric, which make the text dependent on music both on the emotive and symbolic level. The paper will examine the Stabat Mater compositions in the rhetoric context, referring to three main levels: inventio, dispositio and decoratio. The common and individual tendencies will be articulated, evident by the appropriate choice of the key, tempo and rhetorical figures, as well as by some melodic and rhythmic motives or harmonic structure having function of the special illustrative-symbolic signs. The nodal points of the work will be presented as well as the requests of man directed at the Mother (the second part of the sequence) assuming varying intonations of supplication. The function and the message of the compositions are advisable. In contemporary times Stabat Mater of the great composers resound mainly as concert masterpieces in church and secular interiors. The vitality of these interpretations after three hundred years from their creation most certainly bears witness to the composers’ artistry in their works and proves their significance not only for the music of the 18th century but also for the culture and faith of today. Abstrakt Treść poematu Stabat Mater, opisującego postać Matki Bożej cierpiącej pod krzyżem, na którym umiera Jezus – Jej Syn, stała się jednym z uniwersalnych tematów sztuki, zainspirowała kompozytorów różnych wieków i ośrodków, co znalazło swój wyraz w bardzo licznych interpretacjach muzycznych. Spośród ponad 4000 kompozycji do tekstu sekwencji znaczna część to dzieła XVIII-wieczne (najczęściej późnobarokowe), pochodzące z kręgu włoskiego. Chcąc zinterpretować utwór słowno-muzyczny XVIII wieku, nie sposób czynić tego w oderwaniu od teorii afektów i retoryki muzycznej, które uzależniają tekst od muzyki zarówno na poziomie emotywnym, jak i symbolicznym. Referat stanowi próbę oglądu kompozycji Stabat Mater w kontekście retoryki na trzech odpowiadających jej poziomach: inventio, dispositio i decoratio. Wyartykułowane są tendencje wspólne oraz indywidualne, przejawiające się w odpowiednim doborze tonacji, tempa i figur retorycznych, a także pewnych motywów melodycznych, rytmicznych lub struktur harmonicznych funkcjonujących w roli znaku ilustracyjno-symbolicznego. Zaprezentowane zostają punkty węzłowe dzieł oraz prośby człowieka skierowane do Matki (druga część sekwencji) o różnorakiej intonacji błagalnej. Wskazana jest funkcja i przesłanie kompozycji. W czasach współczesnych Stabat Mater wielkich twórców rozbrzmiewają głównie jako dzieła koncertowe we wnętrzach kościelnych lub świeckich. Żywotność tych interpretacji 300 lat od ich powstania świadczy niewątpliwie o kompozytorskim kunszcie utworów oraz o ich znaczeniu nie tylko dla muzyki XVIII wieku, ale i dla dzisiejszej kultury i wiary.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Orlando Fraga

Three central features of Baroque music encompass a large portion of questions about the performance of this particular repertory: its improvisatory aspect, the use of basso continuo, and the instrumental color and variety. Teorbo and lute solos, aside of playing a role as a continuo, filled in the intermissions of oratorios in Italy since late 17th century, while organ concertos provided the same function for English oratorios in the early 18th century. It is from Handel's early period ‒ his first trip to Italy in 1707 ‒ that teorbo and archiliuto start to appear in his vocal music. Handel employed either the teorbo or archiliuto (or simply liuto) in twelve vocal works and in one instrumental Ouverture.  A complete examination of the circumstances that involve this particular aspect of Handel's music is the subject this paper.  


Author(s):  
Edison Edison ◽  
Rini Lestari

Besides receiving education and teaching about the virtues of halal food according to the Melayu tradition, Riau community should also get an understanding of the virtues of halal food based on the Islamic law. This study aims to analyze the concept of the Riau Malay community in maintaining halal food, and what is the manners eat traditions of  Melayu society closely related to eating etiquette in Islam. This research was a field study that collects data based on interviews, observation and documentation. The results showed that the food of the Melayu community has met the elements of halal and thoyyib as stipulated in culinary fiqh in Islamic law. The motive of the Melayu community to eat with halal and thoyyib criteria’s food is more due to habits and traditions that have been taught from generation to generation through the advice and teachings of the elders. This study also revealed that the type of food that is legalized is more than the type of food that is forbidden. Although the Malay community has been taught about the concept of halal food and thoyyib, but the teaching did not contain systematic content and had not yet reached a comprehensive level of understanding.


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