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5 Euro Visions

  • John Robb
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The art of darkness
This chapter is in the book The art of darkness

Abstract

The medium of opera allowed composers to explore darker feelings and tap into the beauty of the Gothic. The Gregorian chant, originating in Jewish and Byzantine traditions, contains this sort of mysterious beauty. Considered a classical ‘proto-goth’, Hungarian composer Franz Liszt updated this form of composition to include his signature themes of death, divinity and hell. This chapter discusses other forms of dark beauty that appear in creative mediums, including classical music and architecture. As centuries passed, the morbid fascination continued, though some forms, such as folk balladry of sex and death, fell victim to the passage of time.

Abstract

The medium of opera allowed composers to explore darker feelings and tap into the beauty of the Gothic. The Gregorian chant, originating in Jewish and Byzantine traditions, contains this sort of mysterious beauty. Considered a classical ‘proto-goth’, Hungarian composer Franz Liszt updated this form of composition to include his signature themes of death, divinity and hell. This chapter discusses other forms of dark beauty that appear in creative mediums, including classical music and architecture. As centuries passed, the morbid fascination continued, though some forms, such as folk balladry of sex and death, fell victim to the passage of time.

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