The Idea of Absolute Music

The Idea of Absolute Music examines the historical development and philosophical underpinnings of music without text, program, or dramatic elements. The book traces how instrumental music evolved from being considered inferior to vocal music in the 18th century to achieving supremacy as "pure" or "absolute" music by the 19th century. Carl Dahlhaus analyzes key writings from philosophers, critics, and composers who shaped musical aesthetics during this pivotal period. Through detailed discussion of works by E.T.A. Hoffmann, Arthur Schopenhauer, Richard Wagner and others, he reconstructs the intellectual debate surrounding music's essence and purpose. The text moves between focused analysis of specific musical compositions and broader theoretical questions about what constitutes musical meaning. Dahlhaus explores how German Romantic philosophy elevated instrumental music to metaphysical status while examining the practical and cultural factors that enabled this transformation. This scholarly work raises fundamental questions about music's relationship to language, emotion, and transcendent experience. The tensions between absolute and program music continue to influence contemporary discussions about musical interpretation and meaning.

Readers note this book offers detailed historical analysis of how instrumental music gained philosophical and cultural status in the 18th-19th centuries. Many cite its thorough examination of German Romantic thought and clear explanations of complex musical concepts. Likes: - Clear tracing of "absolute music" concept through history - Deep analysis of Hanslick and other key thinkers - Strong translations and annotations - Useful for music scholars and philosophers Dislikes: - Dense academic writing style - Assumes prior knowledge of musical theory - Limited discussion of non-German perspectives - Some translations feel awkward One reviewer called it "invaluable for understanding the elevation of instrumental music," while another noted it was "tough going without music theory background." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (8 ratings) Google Books: No ratings available Most academic readers found it useful for research but challenging for casual reading. Music students particularly value the historical context it provides.

Contemplating Music by Edward T. Cone This text explores musical meaning through philosophical frameworks and examines the relationship between absolute music and musical interpretation.

What to Listen for in Music by Aaron Copland The text presents structural and theoretical approaches to understanding absolute music through analysis of form, texture, and musical meaning.

The Aesthetics of Music by Roger Scruton This work examines the philosophical foundations of musical understanding and the nature of pure musical experience.

Music Alone by Peter Kivy The book investigates the concept of musical formalism and the autonomous nature of musical expression through philosophical discourse.

The Beautiful in Music by Eduard Hanslick This foundational text establishes core arguments for musical autonomy and the separation of music from external reference points.

🎵 While the term "absolute music" emerged in the Romantic era, Dahlhaus traces its conceptual roots back to medieval theological discussions about music's divine nature. 🎼 The book explores how E.T.A. Hoffmann's influential 1810 review of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony helped establish instrumental music as superior to vocal music in many critics' minds. 🎹 Dahlhaus demonstrates how the concept of absolute music paradoxically gained strength from its opposition to Wagner's ideas about music drama and Gesamtkunstwerk. 🎵 The original German version, "Die Idee der absoluten Musik," was published in 1978, with the English translation following in 1989, making it accessible to a broader academic audience. 🎼 The author, Carl Dahlhaus (1928-1989), was one of the most influential musicologists of the 20th century, serving as editor of the monumentally important "Neues Handbuch der Musikwissenschaft."