The art of musical phrasing in the eighteenth century : punctuating the classical "period" / Stephanie D. Vial.
| Author/creator |
Vial, Stephanie |
| Format | Book and Print |
| Publication Info | Rochester : University of Rochester Press, 2008. |
| Description | xvi, 358 pages : illustrations, music ; 24 cm. |
| Subject(s) |
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| Series | Eastman studies in music, 1071-9989 ; [v. 55] Eastman studies in music ; [v. 55]. ^A494093 |
| Contents | Part 1. Establishing an historical perspective: Musical punctuation, the analogy ; A surprisingly complex and lively picture of pointing theory ; Musical "resting points of the spirit" -- Part 2. The art of interpreting rests: Written and unwritten rests ; Punctuation vs. articulation ; Affective punctuation -- Part 3. Case studies in musical punctuation: Musical prose F. W. Marpurg's essay on the punctuation of recitative ; Musical verse Johann Mattheson's "curious specimen" of a punctuated minuet -- Afterword -- Appendix A: Translation of Marpurg's Lessons on musical punctuation, from His Kritische Briefe über die Tonkunst, vol. 2 -- Appendix B: Chronological chart of punctuation references. |
| Abstract | There are, of course, no commas, periods, or question marks in music of the Baroque and Classic eras. Nonetheless, the concept of 'punctuating' music into longer and shorter units of expression was richly explored by many of the era's leading composers, theorists, and performers.This book gathers and discusses, for the first time, an extensive collection of quotations and musical illustrations relevant to phrase articulation and written and unwritten rests. Among the notable authors cited and discussed are Muffat, Telemann, C. P. E. Bach, Mattheson, Marpurg, Tartini, and Mozart's father Leopold (author of the most important eighteenth-century treatise on string playing). On a larger scale, this book demonstrates the role of punctuation within the history of rhetoric during the Age of Enlightenment. From this, the performer of today can gain a greater appreciation for both the strengths and shortcomings of the analogy that writers of the day drew between punctuation in written language and in music. Modern performers, argues the author, have the challenge and responsibility of understanding and conveying the nuances, inflections, and rhythmic gestures deeply embedded in eighteenth-century musical notation. The author draws upon her rich experience as a cellist performing on both period and modern instruments to lay out long-needed practical suggestions for achieving this goal. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 325-341) and index. |
| LCCN | 2008000925 |
| ISBN | 9781580460347 (hardcover : alk. paper) |
| ISBN | 1580460348 |
Available Items
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions | |
| Music | Music Stacks | ML457 .V53 2008 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |