Shakespeare's Musical Imagery

Music pervades Shakespeare''swork. In addition to vocal songs and numerous instrumental cues there arethousands of references to music throughout the plays and many of the poems.This book discusses Shakespeare''s musical imagery according to categories definedby occurrence in the plays and poems. In turn, these categories depend on theirearly modern usage and significance. Thus, instruments such as lute and violdeserve special attention just as Renaissance ideas relating to musicalphilosophy and pedagogical theory need contextual explanation. The objective isto locate Shakespeare''s musical imagery, reference and metaphor in itsimmediate context in a play or poem and explain its meaning. Discussion andexplanation of the musical imagery suggests a range of possible dramatic andpoetic purposes these musical references serve.>

List of contents

Preface and Acknowledgements \ 
Introduction: 'Music to
hear':The
scope of Shakespeare's musical imagery \
1. 'By the sweet power of
music': Consonance and harmony \
2. 'And doleful dumps the
mind oppress': Passionate words
\ 3. 'A delightful measure
or a dance': Dance music \
4. 'Braying trumpets and loud churlish drums':
The music of war
\ 5.'A rhyme is but a ballad': Popular song \
6. 'Suppose the singing
birds musicians': Birdsong
\ 7. 'Orpheus with his
lute': Symbolic persons
\ 8. 'Gamut I am, the ground
of all accord': Music theory and pedagogy \ 9.'A thousand twangling
instruments': Art and country instruments
\ Epilogue: 'A swanlike end,
fading in music'\ 
Bibliography \
Index

About the author

Christopher R. Wilson

Product details

• Authors: Christopher R. Willson, Christopher R Wilson, Christopher R. Wilson
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 03.11.2011
• EAN: 9781847064950
• ISBN: 978-1-84706-495-0
• No. of pages: 272
• Series: Continuum Shakespeare Studies; Continuum Shakespeare Studies
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; English, MUSIC / Instruction & Study / Theory, LITERARY CRITICISM / Drama, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / General, Literary studies: general, Theory of music & musicology, Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800, Literary studies: c 1600 to c 1800, Shakespeare Studies & Criticism, Literary studies: plays and playwrights, Theory of music and musicology, Relating to Shakespeare / Shakespearean