Published: 2020-05-141

Musical topoi. The chosen perspectives of topos in music

Michał Sołtysik
Edukacja Muzyczna
Section: Research articles
https://doi.org/10.16926/em.2019.14.10

Abstract

This article studies topos as a concept and its influence in Western Music. For this end, the history of how the understanding of topos developed, as well as how it manifested itself, shall be presented. This term, one which originates from the Ancient Greek’s study of Rhetoric, quickly gained acceptance in many cultural contexts. It is thanks to this growth that it was promptly incorporated into ars musica. During the Middle-ages, this concept from the Antique era was revived, notably influencing the illustrative nature of this era’s music. The concept continued throughout the Common era proceeding, especially in reinforcing the role of affects in music. The 20th century witnessed the progression of many unique understandings of topos coindependently. The contemporary thought of this era has presented numerous propositions of one is to understand the term that oscillates between the fields of musicology, literature studies, and philosophy. It can be said, that defining topos in the field of music will be closely tied with the emerging „transcultural” phenomenon; an appropriate paradigm with which to observe the variables shaping European culture, such as globalization and orientalism.

Keywords:

philosophy of music, history of music, musical rhetoric, topos in music, transcultural topos

Citation rules

Sołtysik, M. . (2020). Musical topoi. The chosen perspectives of topos in music. Edukacja Muzyczna, 14, 199–228. https://doi.org/10.16926/em.2019.14.10

Cited by / Share

Licence


This website uses cookies for proper operation, in order to use the portal fully you must accept cookies.