Richard Wagner
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
| Revision as of 12:59, 18 May 2007 WikiSysop (Talk | contribs) ← Previous diff |
Revision as of 21:11, 9 June 2007 WikiSysop (Talk | contribs) Next diff → |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| + | ''' Wilhelm Richard Wagner''' ([[22 May]] [[1813]] – [[13 February]] [[1883]]) was a [[Germany|German]] [[composer]], [[Conducting|conductor]], [[music theory|music theorist]], and [[essayist]], primarily known for his [[opera]]s (or "[[music drama]]s" as he later came to call them). Unlike most other great opera composers, Wagner always wrote the [[scenario]] and [[libretto]] for his works himself. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Wagner's compositions, particularly those of his later period, are notable for their [[contrapuntal]] [[texture (music)|texture]], rich [[chromaticism]], [[harmony|harmonies]] and [[orchestration]], and elaborate use of [[leitmotif]]s: musical themes associated with specific characters, locales, or plot elements. Wagner pioneered advances in musical language including extreme chromaticism and [[atonality]] which greatly influenced the development of [[European classical music]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | He transformed musical thought through his idea of ''[[Gesamtkunstwerk]]'' ("total artwork"), the synthesis of all the poetic, visual, musical and dramatic arts, epitomized by his monumental four-opera cycle ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen]]'' (1876). Wagner even went so far as to build his own [[Bayreuth Festspielhaus|opera-house]] to try to stage these works as he had imagined them. | ||
| [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{PAGENAMEE}}] [May 2007] | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{PAGENAMEE}}] [May 2007] | ||
Revision as of 21:11, 9 June 2007
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Wilhelm Richard Wagner (22 May 1813 – 13 February 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or "music dramas" as he later came to call them). Unlike most other great opera composers, Wagner always wrote the scenario and libretto for his works himself.
Wagner's compositions, particularly those of his later period, are notable for their contrapuntal texture, rich chromaticism, harmonies and orchestration, and elaborate use of leitmotifs: musical themes associated with specific characters, locales, or plot elements. Wagner pioneered advances in musical language including extreme chromaticism and atonality which greatly influenced the development of European classical music.
He transformed musical thought through his idea of Gesamtkunstwerk ("total artwork"), the synthesis of all the poetic, visual, musical and dramatic arts, epitomized by his monumental four-opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen (1876). Wagner even went so far as to build his own opera-house to try to stage these works as he had imagined them. [1] [May 2007]
