How Musical Rhythm Reveals Human Attitudes : An Annotated Translation by Nigel Nettheim.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nettheim, Nigel, 1940- author.

Series:

Varia Musicologica Series

Varia Musicologica Series ; v.16.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Art--Poetry.

Art.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (341 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Bern : Peter Lang AG International Academic Publishers, 2011.

Summary:

What is the broadest significance of musical rhythm? Human attitudes to the world are reflected in it, according to Gustav Becking. Writing in the 1920s, Becking proposed a novel method of finding systematic differences of attitude between individual composers, between nations, and between historical time periods. He dealt throughout with Western classical music, from the period approximately 1600-1900. His method was to observe in fine detail the pattern of motion and pressure traced out by a small baton allowed to move in sympathy with a given musical excerpt. The various patterns arising for individual composers were represented graphically, and in that form became known as «Becking curves». Implications were touched upon in psychology, sociology and philosophy. His thesis is now published in English translation from the original German for the first time, with many annotations.

Contents:

Cover

Title

Copyright

Table of Contents

Preface by the Translator

An English Translation of Becking's Book

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter I Personal Constants and Typology of Attitudes

Chapter II National Attitudes and Views of Life

Chapter III Historical Types. Periods of German Music History from Schütz to Wagner

Table of Beating Figures ["Becking Curves"] for Chapter III

Appendices

A Annotations

B The Origin and Reception of Becking's Book

C Some Details of the Translation

D Some Details of the Musical Examples

E Additional Musical Examples

F List of Paragraph Summaries

Indices

Composers of Musical Examples

Tables

Graphs of Beating Figures

Names and Subjects.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

3-0343-4691-3