Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

What Does Music Mean?

Oct 19, 2023

The podcast discusses the topic of 'What Does Music Mean?' through the exploration of Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, Barber's Adagio for Strings, and Shostakovich's 5th Symphony. It delves into the challenges and significance of interpreting classical music, the subjective and objective approaches to understanding meaning, and the historical context and emotional elements in the compositions. The podcast also explores the personal associations that influence interpretation, the struggles faced by Shostakovich during the Great Purge, and the different interpretations of the ending of Schusterkovich's composition.

52:27

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Quick takeaways

Understanding the meaning of music requires delving into the composers' lives and historical context to interpret their intended emotional and historical significance.

By studying Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, the Eroica, performers can convey the hero's emotional journey, influenced by Beethoven's personal struggle and admiration for Napoleon.

Deep dives

Interpreting the Meanings of Music

The host discusses the subjective and objective approaches to understanding the meaning of music. While music itself may not inherently mean anything, it can hold deep significance for the composer. The host explores examples from Beethoven's symphonies, Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, and Dmitry Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5. In each case, the music carries emotional and historical contexts that allow performers to interpret the composer's intentions. By delving into the composers' lives and the historical backdrop, musicians can bring the music to life and convey its intended meaning.

Introduction

3min

Interpreting the Meaning of Music

22min

Exploring Meaning and Emotions in Music

5min

The Subjectivity of Music Interpretation and a Historical Condemnation

5min

The Existential Threat: Shostakovich's Struggles and Musical Rehabilitation

3min

Interpreting the Ending

15min

Today is a bit of an unusual episode. Last month I was invited by the British Society of Aesthetics to address their annual conference. My task was to give a lecture on whatever topic I wanted, having to do with music. So, considering it was an Academic Philosophy conference, I chose the easiest and most straightforward topic possible - What Does Music Mean?

Obviously, this is a topic that has been interrogated from just about every different angle, and I certainly would never claim to have all the answers. But for my lecture, I decided to focus on how to find meaning in these amazing works from a performer's perspective. How do I study and learn these pieces so that I can find the meaning that I think is inside of them? What does history teach us about these pieces and can we use history to find meaning in these works? To try to answer these questions I chose three pieces to explore - Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, Barber's Adagio for Strings, and Shostakovich's 5th Symphony. After the lecture I realized it could easily be a podcast episode, so I've slightly changed a few things to make the lecture a bit more podcast-friendly. I hope you enjoy this one, and thanks to the British Society of Aesthetics for their invitation and their warm welcome!

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