Sonic Transformations of Literary Texts: From Program Music to Musical Ekphrasis (Interplay: Music in Interdisciplinary Dialogue)

Among the possible pairings between two art forms that express themselves in different sign systems (verbal, pictorial, sonic, kinetic, etc.), the relationship between words and images is the one that is most widely explored. And in fact, the most securely established terminology is found in a field that has experienced a significant revival in recent years: ekphrasis. The literary topos through which a poem (or any other text) addresses itself to the visual arts has received much attention in recent years and been subjected to intense scrutiny. Frontmatter Introduction (Siglind Bruhn, page 7) PART I Fateful Couples and Symbols of Death in Romantic Piano Music and Opera Chopin's Preludes Op. 28 and Lamartine's Les Préludes (Anatole Leikin, University of California at Santa Cruz, page 13) Transposition and Transition: Berlioz's Romeo et Juliette (John Neubauer, University of Amsterdam, page 45) The Iagoization of Otello: A Study in Verdi's Musical Translation of Shakespeare's Linguistic Dramaturgy (Jeffrey Kurtzman, Washington University in Saint Louis, page 69) PART II Echoes of Anguish and Agony in 20th-century Chamber Music Interpreting Interpretation: Janácek's String Quartet No. 1 (William P. Dougherty, Drake University, page 105) "Streicht dunkler die Geigen": On musical renderings of Paul Celan's poetry (Axel Englund, University of Stockholm, page 119) "Ming I - Die Verwundung des Hellen": Walter Steffens's Compositions about Suffering and Fate (Siglind Bruhn, University of Michigan, page 143) PART III Intermedial Re-presentations and Reflections in Musical Expressionism The Tone Poem: Music between Literary Criticism, Tone Painting, and Sonata Form Plots (Mathieu Schneider, University of Strasbourg, page 173) Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire: A Musical Transformation of Art Nouveau (Beat A. Föllmi, University of Strasbourg, page 203) Amers: André Boucourechliev and Saint-John Perse, a Missed Encounter? (Christine Esclapaz, University of Aix-Marseille, page 221) Index (page 233) The Contributors (page 237) Fateful couples and symbols of death in romantic piano music and opera. Chopin's Preludes op. 28 and Lamartine's Les préludes / Anatole Leikin ; Transposition and transition : Berlioz's Romeo et Juliette / John Neubauer ; Chaos in the language and music of Othello/Otello / Jeffrey Kurtzm Echoes of anguish and agony in 20th-century chamber music. Interpreting interpretation : Janácek's String quartet no. 1 / William Dougherty ; Streicht dunkler die Geigen : on musical renderings of Paul Celan's poetry / Axel Englund ; Ming-I, darkening of the light : Walter Steffens's Piano quartet on a poem by Nelly Sachs / Siglind Bruhn Intermedial re-presentations and reflections in musical expressionism. The relationship to the text : Arnold Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht, op. 4, and Pelleas und Melisande, op. 5 / Gerold W. Gruber ; Schoenberg's Pierrot lunaire : a musical transformation of art nouveau / Beat Föllmi ; Amers : André Boucourechliev and Saint-John Perse, a missed encounter? / Christine Esclapez ; The tone poem : music between literary criticism, tone painting, and sonata form plots / Mathieu Schneider. Among The Possible Relationships Between Art Forms That Express Themselves In Different Sign Systems, The Pairing Of Words And Images Is The One That Is Most Thoroughly Explored. And In Fact, The Most Securely Established Terminology Is Found In A Field That Has Experienced A Significant Revival In Recent Years: Ekphrasis. The Literary Topos Through Which A Poem (or Any Other Text) Addresses Itself To The Visual Arts Has Received Much Attention In Recent Years And Been Subjected To Intense Scrutiny.--jacket. Part I. Fateful Couples And Symbols Of Death In Romantic Piano Music And Opera -- Part Ii. Echoes Of Anguish And Agonyin 20th-century Chamber Music -- Part Iii. Intermedian Re-presentations And Reflections In Musical Expressionism. Edited By Siglind Bruhn. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.