Schütz
Luther
Gluck
Hassler
Bach
Telemann
Handel
Beethoven
Schumann
Brahms
Weber
Wagner
Mendelssohn
Richard Strauss
Hindemith
Weill
Orff
Stockhausen
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Germany
One of the most important countries in European
culture in general, and of the Romantic period
in particular. This country, which was an essential cultural factor in
19th century Europe, contributed a lot to the formation of the Romantic
sound, through the works of Beethoven,
Brahms,
Weber,
Schumann
and Mendelssohn.
But with composers such as Schütz,
Gluck,
Telemann
and the Bach
dynasty, Germany was dominant since earlier times.
The German lied,
in which the Austrian
Schubert
and Hugo Wolf
excelled, seems as the most intimate, authentic form of expression
of a lost romantic culture. Mahler
and Bruckner,
with their impressive symphonic music played by bigger orchestras than
ever before, characterize Germany's strong will to obtain dominance in
Europe.
Yet more than anyone else, Richard
Wagner
represents Germany's tendency for art that explores its past, along with
the wish to create a new independent culture for itself. Wagner identified
with von-Bismark's struggle for German unity,
against the ruling powerful Austrian emperor.
When Bismark had won, Wagner dedicated his operas to the ancient pagan
German mythology (for instance, "The Nibelung's
Ring" cycle). In the town of Bayreuth,
King Ludwig II of Bavaria even founded "the
shrine for German art" for him, where purely "national art"
plays were performed on stage. His anti-Semitic views and artistic approach
made the Nazis adore Wagner's music, and for many years after his death
he became Hitler's symbol of Aryan culture. Richard
Strauss
("Till Eulenschpiegel"), who was
also cultivated by the Nazi regime, was considered, however inaccurately,
as his successor, although this notion was probably distorted and exaggerated.
German composers in early 20th
century
like Hindemith
and Kurt Weill
contributed the concept of "functional music"
(Gebrauchmusik), and composed such music as part of the general artistic
trend of "functional art".
Dances originated in this country:
Allemande
- a moderate German dance, in 3/4.
Galop
- a cheerful circle dance in a triple metre from Germany.
Musical cities in Germany
Germany on the WWW
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