Abstract
Stravinsky’s Symphonies of Wind Instruments represents a remarkable example of discontinuity. Here, a traditional
sense of continuous development is troubled by a sequence of segments, which at first sight seems non-related.
However, the noticeable discontinuous gestures appear only as a superficial feature. In the compositional structure,
there are several indications of connection and development which can be explored. Hence a ‘continuity-after-all’
comprehension has been an important principle guiding most commentators, from Edward Cone’s threefold conception
of ‘stratification’, ‘interlocking’, and ‘synthesis’ (Cone, 1962: 19f), to Jonathan Kramer’s accentuation of discontinuity
as a ‘profound musical experience’ with the ‘proportional lengths of moments as the one remaining principle of formal
coherence’ (Kramer, 1978: 182). Though, the general attempt to reveal the music’s ‘secret connections’ in the
‘disguise’ of discontinuity implies an either-or viewpoint, which tends to overlook the fact that the musical progression
suggests mutually contradistinctive impressions and, as such, is essentially ambiguous. Thus, in this paper it is not my
intention to assert that the Symphonies in truth is continuous, if we only expand our musical thought beyond a
superficial examination. Rather, I want to emphasize the assumption that the important musical experience is to be
found in the ambiguity itself, caused by an aporetic relation between the apparent discontinuous gestures in the
immediate listening and a sense of coherence in the subsequent musical reflection.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Music and Gesture |
Editors | Anthony Gritten, Elaine King |
Number of pages | 9 |
Publisher | Royal Northern College of Music |
Publication date | 2006 |
Pages | 36-44 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 0955332907 |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Event | Second International Conference on Music and Gesture - Manchester, United Kingdom Duration: 20 Jul 2006 → 23 Jul 2006 Conference number: 2 |
Conference
Conference | Second International Conference on Music and Gesture |
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Number | 2 |
Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
City | Manchester |
Period | 20/07/2006 → 23/07/2006 |
Keywords
- Stravinsky
- Symphonies of Wind Instruments
- Discontinuity
- Coherence
- Ambiguity