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Introduction
This topic was very appealing to me because I was interested in studying opera music. Richard Wagner is one of the most well-recognized opera writers, and his works are still highly popular throughout the world. So, I decided to investigate Wangers trends in creating opera music. In addition, I was also intrigued to learn about Wagners approach to opera, which seemed to differ from other writers strategies.
At first, I studied Wagners works and learned a little more about the composer. Wagners ideas are often recognized as innovative, having greatly impacted the opera world. Many scholars noted his distinct approach to writing music and discussed the importance of leitmotifs and Gesamtkunstwerk. Leitmotifs were very interesting because they allowed the audience to make connections between opera themes. But the most significant was Gesamtkunstwerk, which Wagner introduced to connect opera and dramaturgy. During my research, I realized that Wagners use of these concepts is perfectly represented in the preludes he wrote for his operas. These preludes have incredible musical and drama power. Not only do they introduce the audience to the opera, but they also contain a lot of music that is used in later sequences. So, I decided to answer the question of how Wagners preludes influenced opera music.
Researching Wagner
To answer my question, I researched scholarly articles and books about Wagners preludes. Books on Wagner and his ideas were very insightful to me, as they contained information about his influence and provided a great overview of his works. The books by Alex Ross (2020), Burkholder et al. (2019), and Grey (1988) are perfect examples of the works I used. The score analyses in these books also helped me understand Wagners techniques. After that, I read a lot of journal articles on Wagners compositions. These works were valuable for understanding the meaning behind specific themes and their connection to music. This information helped me to find the answer to my question.
Results
My answer to the research question was that Wagners preludes were highly influential because they introduced new composing techniques. Repetition of themes, leitmotifs, and connection between music and feelings were novel for that age. Many composers were impressed with Wagners ideas and tried to follow his steps. This is especially important as Wagners strategies allowed impressing the audience and helped them understand the meaning of the opera better. Therefore, Wagners preludes have indeed impacted opera music, and numerous authors later incorporated his composing trends.
The most prominent evidence is the various methods of creating opera music. These strategies become especially evident in score analyses. I have examined the scores from Tristan and Isoldes Prelude and Love Death sequences, as well as Sentas Theme and Sailors Chorus from the Flying Dutchman, and each work contains perfect examples of leitmotifs. Wagner excellently creates an association between the characters feelings and particular music sequences, and he introduces specific melodies during the events of the opera. For example, in Prelude and Love Death, motives c, d, and f are often present, and they are associated with tenderness, Isoldas passion, and danger, respectively. This link between the music and the story creates a comprehensive impression of the operas central ideas.
In addition, there are clear connections between different parts of the preludes and the following opera sequences. For example, in Tristan and Isolde, motives c, d, and f appear several times throughout the play, uniting the opera. The technique is known as recapitulation, essential for creating a strong dramatic effect. By introducing leitmotifs and recapitulation, Wagner significantly affected the creation of opera music for future generations, as composers from future historical periods used recapitulation and leitmotifs in their works as well. So powerful was the contribution that a musical movement named Wagnerism had been developed to follow in the footsteps of the great composer. Thus, Wagners composing ideas proved influential, impacting the future of the opera.
Topic Highlights
I encountered a fascinating finding during my research. There is a deep philosophical meaning behind Wagners operas, which is often discussed by scholars. Several authors mentioned how complicated Wagners storylines can be. Tristan and Isolde and the Ring of the Nebelung are perfect examples of works that contain speculations about love, death, heroism, and other controversial topics. Therefore, both Wagners musical and dramaturgical creations are excellent targets for studying. From the musical perspective, Wagner introduced numerous composing techniques. However, from the perspective of drama writing, Wagner also greatly influenced opera by incorporating sensitive and philosophical ideas. Many of Wagners works are based on tragic myths, discovering the aspects of human nature. So, it is not just the incredible opera music that demonstrates Wagners genius, but it is also his talent for creating fascinating storylines.
Additional Questions to Be Answered
Some interesting questions were raised by my results. For example, it would be insightful to understand how Wagners composing form changed throughout the years. His ideas about creating operas also included developing motives, and overarching themes, and changing the overall approach to writing opera music. So, not only his preludes may have proved to be influential in the opera sphere. Future composers might have adopted several strategies used by Wagner. It would be inspiring to know which other techniques introduced by Wagner impacted the creation of opera music.
Another question that came to mind was the connection between Wagners compositions and German opera. My results suggest that German composers were most impacted by Wagners insights into creating opera music. However, it would be interesting to examine how these trends were adopted by specific authors. Each composers approach to music is unique in its way, with the writer combining their knowledge of music with individual experiences. But there are still some patterns evident in numerous works which can be related to the methods created by an earlier composer. For example, I think that it would be very informative to analyze Wagners impact on German composers. This is especially important for understanding the development of opera throughout the ages.
Conclusion
I believe that the results of my research can greatly improve the understanding of Wagner from a contemporary perspective. As such, Wagners works are still highly popular, with many composers using his sequences or particular techniques. However, not many people are aware of the novel opera music creation methods that he developed. Tristan and Isolde, the Flying Dutchman, and other works appear to have originated a distinct trend in the opera industry. Not only were the composers able to write compositions that were more impressive for the audience, but they now could also better integrate the music flow. As the years went on, Wagners techniques have also been modified, but they undoubtedly played a substantial role in advancing opera music. Thus, it is important to remember Wagners contribution to this sphere.
References
Burkholder, J. P., Donald J. G., & Palisca, C. V. (2019). Norton anthology of western music (8th ed.). New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Grey, T. S. (1988). Wagner, the overture, and the aesthetics of musical form. 19th-Century Music, 12(1), 322. Web.
Ross, A. (2020). Wagnerism: art and politics in the shadow of music. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
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