Romantic
Blog
Focus
Area 1: Composers
Bethany
Hartlaub
10/1/12
My journey through music history
has been incredibly fascinating. The unique times, composers, influences, and
of course the music, has proved a valuable learning experience for me. However,
there has been one question nagging at the back of my mind since I started on this
journey. The question of whether “bad” people can compose worthy music. When
one considers composers like Carlo Geswaldo, who murdered his wife; Richard
Wagner, who vehemently hated the Jews; or Peter Tchaikovsky, who attempted
suicide numerous times; many wonder what position to take (Hanning, 2010).
Should one listen to music from composers such as these? I believe that we can appreciate a composer’s music and seek to learn
from it, even if we do not agree with their lifestyle or beliefs. As we
explore this topic, I would like to look at the lives of two Romantic
composers, Felix Mendelssohn and Richard Wagner.
 |
| Felix Mendelssohn www.bach-cantatas.com |
 |
| Richard Wagner www.last.fm |
As far as their personal lives are concerned, Mendelssohn and Wagner
could not have been more different. Mendelssohn grew up in a wealthy
Protestant home (Moshansky, 1981). Wagner grew up in the atmosphere of
theatrical life, even acting in several operas as a young child (Felsenfeld
& Getzinger, 2004). Mendelssohn was extremely proficient at the piano and
violin, while Wagner rarely practiced and was a terrible student (Moshansky,
1981; Whiting, 2005). At the age of 11, Mendelssohn had already composed
several noteworthy works, while Wagner’s first composition attempt at 13 was
considered a total failure (Felix Mendelssohn, 2009; Felsenfeld &
Getzinger, 2004). In his adult life,
Mendelssohn was happily married to Cecile Jeanrenaud and had five children. He
was very close and devoted to his wife and children as well as his parents and
siblings (Felix Mendelssohn, 2009). Wagner on the other hand was unhappily
married to his first wife Minna and had multiple affairs, often with the wives
of his most loyal friends and supporters (Felsenfeld & Getzinger, 2004).
One of those affairs led to a second marriage to Cosima von Bulow.
 |
| Cosima Wagner www.dermeister.nl |
 |
| Cecile
Jeanrenaud Mendelssohn findagrave.com |
When one considers Mendelssohn’s life, he almost seems boring in
comparison to a man like Wagner. Mendelssohn was considered a decent, upstanding
citizen; Wagner’s life was characterized by lying, cheating, deception, and
pride. He lived his life either fleeing from creditors or the government
(Felsenfeld & Getzinger, 2004). Most disturbing is his view on the Jews,
who he believed were incapable of creating good art (Hanning, 2010).
These two composers also differed in the way they viewed music and the
changing times. Mendelssohn looked back on composers such as Bach and
Mozart for inspiration in composing. His style is typically more restrained,
though still Romantic (Ewen, 1965). Wagner looked to innovators such as
Beethoven and stretched the bands of tonality to their limits (Ewen, 1965;
Hanning, 2010).
Even though there are vast differences between these two men, no one
can deny their important place and contributions to musical development. Mendelssohn
was skilled at taking Classical forms and expanding them with Romantic elements
(Felix Mendelssohn, 2009). This can particularly be seen in his oratories,
which combine Baroque ideas with Romantic innovations, successfully linking the
old and the new (Hanning, 2010). Wagner took Romantic ideals to new heights,
especially in the genre of opera (Hanning, 2010). He revolutionized the way
composers approach opera with his idea that music and drama should be united as
one (Felsenfeld & Getzinger, 2004).
youtube.com
Here we have two men, so completely
different, yet both gave the musical world such riches in ideas and
composition. One is a man we would admire; the other a man we would abhor. So
whose music should we listen too? Do we listen to Mendelssohn’s music and
eschew Wagner’s? Well, that depends
on how we look at it. I believe that
even though some composers did not live worthy lives, there is still opportunity for us to learn
from them. The way composers lived and the music they wrote gives us a
bigger and fuller picture of the world we live in, though that picture may not
be one we want to see. While it may be hard to fully enjoy such music when you
know the background of the composer, everyone should be able to appreciate the
creativity of their works and the knowledge that can be gained from listening
to and understanding them.
youtube.com
youtube.com
Reference List:
And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth – Elijah. Retrieved
from:
Cécile Jeanrenaud Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Retrieved from:
Ewen, D. (1965). The
complete book of Classical music. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc.
Felsenfeld, D., Getzinger, D. (2004). Richard Wagner and German Opera. Greensboro, NC: Morgan
Reynolds Publishing, Inc.
Hanning, B. R. (2010). Concise
history of Western music. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Moshansky, M., (1981). Mendelssohn:
his life and times. Neptune City, NJ: Paganiniana Publications, Inc.
Philharmonic String Octet of Berlin plays Mendelssohn String
Octet in E flat - Auditorium du Louvre.
Richard Wagner - Lohengrin - Prelude to Act III. Retrieved
from:
Wagner - Die Walküre: "The Ride of the Valkyries"
(Boulez). Retrieved from:
Whiting, J., (2005). The
life and times of Richard Wagner. Hockessin, Delaware: Mitchell Lane
Publishers
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.