Monday, September 23, 2024


THOMAS MANN
Doctor Faustus

It is only annoying - if you don't want to call it pleasant - that in music - at least in music - there are things for which, even with the best will in the world, no truly characterizing adjective, or combination of adjectives, can be found in the whole realm of language. I have been struggling with this for a few days - you cannot find an adequate term for the spirit, the attitude, the gesture of this theme. Because there is a lot of gesture in it. Tragically bold? Defiant, emphatic, the spirit driven to the sublime? All of this is not good. And 'splendid'! Of course, that is just a silly capitulation. In the end you end up with the factual prescription, the name: Allegro appassionato, that is the best.



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