The Sublime and the Beautiful – Applying Burke’s philosophy to Mozart
Immanuel Kant, John Keats, Johann Gottfried Herder – all these names can be associated with the concept of beauty in literature and music. But if we delve deeper into this subject, there will also be another entity named Burke, who has made a significant impact on the realm of art.
The Philosophical Background
Edmund Burke is an 18th-century Irish philosopher. He wrote a book called A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful. In this book, he discussed about two concepts – the beautiful and the sublime.
The Beautiful
The beautiful is something that we encounter in our everyday life. Burke states that beauty is an aesthetic quality which requires to be seen in order to be perceived. According to him, a work of art may be beautiful even though it has no moral value. For example, Leonardo da Vinci’s painting Mona Lisa is considered one of the most beautiful paintings ever created.
The Sublime
On the other hand, the sublime is an experience that awakens in us a sense of awe and wonder. Burke writes that sublimity is a power of nature or of art which excites the feelings of the mind by affording no means to terminate its survey but gives an indeterminate view.
Applying Burke’s Philosophy to Mozart
Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria and died at the age of 35. He is considered one of the greatest composers in history. From a philosophical standpoint, his music can be viewed through the lens of Burke’s sublime and beautiful.
Music expresses that most fragile part of us, and it gives us even more strength when we have nothing left.
– Leon Fleisher
Mozart’s Music – A Representation of Beauty
- Clarinettist Josef Leutertitz said about Mozart: ‘His music is light, as it were and full of the finest things.’ This quote shows that Mozart’s music has a beautiful quality.
- Mozart’s symphonies and concertos also exemplify beauty in music. His piano concertos are known for their melodic lines, which are full of expression and emotion.
- Opera seria was another genre that Mozart composed during his career. These operas were known for their dramatic plot and beautiful music.
Mozart’s Music – A Representation of Sublime
- Mozart’s music is full of drama and tension, which represents the sublime in music. For example, his famous Requiem Mass in D minor features a moment of great intensity, known as the ‘Lacrimosa’.
- Another representation of the sublime can be seen in Mozart’s opera “Don Giovanni”. The music is full of dramatic tension and releases.
- Mozart’s symphonies are also considered to be sublime. They feature complex melodies and harmonies, which create a sense of awe and wonder.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mozart’s music can be viewed through the lens of Burke’s philosophy – beautiful and sublime. His music has a beautiful quality, with its melodic lines and dramatic plot. On the other hand, his music also represents the sublime, with its dramatic tension and releases.