moonchildhippy
Group: Members
Posts: 1807
Joined: Dec. 2004 |
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Posted: May 30 2010, 17:59 |
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I was watching "Stephen Fry On Wagner" as shown on BBC4 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/2010/05/my-journey-with-stephen-fry-an.shtml
and I just thought this would be an interesting topic to discuss. I don't think Alan D comes on here very much now, but I'm sure he'd find it interesting.
Stephen has a passion for Wagner's music, and I enjoy it as well, as I do Elgar. I'm just thinking how much Wagner's music changes it's focus, one minute it builds and soars, then there's a chord change to a rather more unharmonious chord, as so the story unfolds. I do think Wagner's music also tells a story as you listen to it, and you can also picture a scene within your mind, not only that but the soloist singers act out the story on the stage. I don't really like to call them Wagnerian operas, as they incorporate more than an opera. I know I don't understand the words that are being sung. (I can speak a bit of German).
I know in "Tristan and Isolde" the chords start of as the two lovers longing and anticipation for each other, so this is reflected in the scale of the chords used, but as Tristan and Isolde meet up again the music begins to flow, and carries on soaring up and up, as the lovers meet and the passion starts to build, and they are making love, and then they get interrupted just before the climax, as another couple enter the room.
I just see Wagner's music as full of passion , and soul, and he was one to compose from his heart, I just see his music as beautiful to listen to. I know Wagner's music would become controversial, later on, as Hitler was a fan.
However despite the negative connotations, I just see the beauty and passion in Wagner's compositions  . I don't see how Wagner can be blamed for the rise of Naziism, as Wagner predates the rise of Naziism by some 40-50 years at least. However I know that many Jews play/listen to Wagners music. Stephen Fry has Jewish ancestry himself. I do consider it's a great shame that the beauty and passion of Wagner's music has been marred (by some) due to it's popularity with Hitler.
Moving back to the music I do think that Wagner has had an influence on many bands/artists in the later part of the 20th Century. I did read once Joe Elliott of Def leppard described Wagneras "the first heavy metal artist". I do think Wagner had a big influence on Prog Rock, I think if Wagner was alive in the 1970's, he'd have put on elaborate stage shows, outdoing Rick Wakeman. Yes Wagner was the ELP of his day. I do see Wagner in early Queen, as in the variation in intensity, from light to heavy and back, and also in the operatic vocals, and not only that Queen put on a complete stage show. If I take Tubular Bells,. the rythym changes are all over the place chord changes can significantly alter the mood of the piece, making it such a roller coaster. Oh yes and Wagner also composed from the heart. I'm wondering if anyone has any views on this
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