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Death-devoted heart : sex and the sacred in Wagner's Tristan and Isolde / Roger Scruton.
| Author/creator | Scruton, Roger |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2004. |
| Description | vi, 238 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm |
| Subjects |
| Contents | Wagner and religion -- The story of Tristan -- Wagner's treatment of the story -- The music of Tristan -- The philosophy of love -- Tragedy and sacrifice -- Love, death and redemption -- Epilogue: From romance to ritual. |
| Abstract | A tale of forbidden love and inevitable death, the medieval legend of Tristan and Isolde recounts the story of two lovers unknowingly drinking a magic potion and ultimately dying in one another's arms. While critics have lauded Wagner's Tristan and Isolde for the originality and subtlety of the music, they have denounced the drama as a "mere trifle"--a rendering of Wagner's forbidden love for Matilde Wesendonck, the wife of a banker who supported him during his exile in Switzerland. This book explodes this established interpretation, proving the drama to be more than just a sublimation of the composer's love for Wesendonck or a wistful romantic dream. The author boldly attests that Tristan and Isolde has profound religious meaning and remains as relevant today as it was to Wagner's contemporaries. He also offers keen insight into the nature of erotic love, the sacred qualities of human passion, and the peculiar place of the erotic in our culture. His argument touches on the nature of tragedy, the significance of ritual sacrifice, and the meaning of redemption, providing a fresh interpretation of Wagner's masterpiece. The author has written an original and provocative account of Wagner's music drama, which blends philosophy, criticism, and musicology in order to show the work's importance in the twenty-first century. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 209-231) and index. |
| LCCN | 2002155709 |
| ISBN | 0195166914 (alk. paper) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Music Stacks | ML410.W14 S47 2004 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |