580 likes | 995 Views
THE MUSICAL CULTURE OF EUROPE. How does music communicate ideas of national identity?. We will examine European folk music to discover the many ways it can express nationalist styles. Vienna, with its rich history and variety of styles, will serve as our focal point.
E N D
We will examine European folk music to discover the many ways it can express nationalist styles
Vienna, with its rich history and variety of styles, will serve as our focal point
1. History contains labels for musical styles that are distinctively Viennese
Viennese music symbolizes the unbroken and persistent history of the city
3. Vienna forms a sort of cultural backdrop that permits unexpected, even jarring, juxtapositions
“Das Wiener Fiakerlied” (“The Viennese Coachman’s Song”), Textbook CD 2, track 20
Individuals tend to identify with the culture of the region in which they live
The musical areas of Europe also result from groups of people who share a way of life and a distinctive music
The music of European Roma and Sinti is a process of negotiation between the community and the culture of which it is a part
Modern European unity is rooted in old, nationalist identities
There is a belief that the music of the past is related to the music of the present
Folk music can reveal history in both musical and political ways
The Hungarian construction of history out of folk-song style has clear nationalistic implications
Béla Bartók: “Lullaby” and “Dance from Maramoros,” Textbook CD 2, track 23
European ideas about music have a great deal to do with shared historical experiences
Folk music that accompanies ritual or that embodies spiritual themes is overwhelmingly religious in many communities
Concerts have become a form of musical ritual particularly suited to modern Europe
Concerts inevitably shift a certain degree of attention to the performer
“Steirischer mit Gestanzln” (“Dance from Styria”) Textbook CD 3, track 1
Epic Song from Montenegro: “Tzarina Milica und Duke Vladeta,” Textbook CD 3, track 2
Musical instruments are symbols of unity and distinctiveness
Music lives in tension with the social structure of European culture
National styles are more the result of politics than of a consistent style of music
Another legacy of the 19th century was the rise of virtuosity
The idealized form of folk music is an aesthetic metaphor for community
European music is a complex combination of different musical styles, created by many different peoples
Music is used by various European countries as a mean of defining themselves and creating a unified culture
The story of Europe’s music is closely related to its history
European folk music is often associated with a specific cultural group or regional area
Urbanization introduced a wider variety of music and musical instruments