Studies in the Wagnerian Drama

Name: Studies in the Wagnerian Drama
Author: Henry Edward Krehbiel

By Henry Edward Krehbiel

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About This Book

The author examines the Wagnerian lyric drama as a regenerator of opera, tracing musical and theatrical prototypes from Greek tragedy and the Florentine lyric reform, and arguing music serves dramatic expression rather than an end in itself. He analyzes Wagner's structural devices—characteristic phrases and leitmotifs, orchestration, choral function, tonal procedure—and their ethical and formal roles. Dedicated chapters dissect Tristan und Isolde's chromatic longing, musical exposition, and fatal symbolism, and Die Meistersinger's comic debate between spontaneous poetic impulse and pedantic form. Throughout, musical examples and score illustrations support close readings of dramatic technique, thematic development, and musical language.

About the Author

Henry Edward Krehbiel

Henry Edward Krehbiel was an American music critic and author, renowned for his insightful writings on opera and music appreciation. He contributed significantly to the understanding of the lyric drama, particularly through his works such as "A Book of Operas: Their Histories, Their Plots, and Their Music" and "Chapters of Opera," which provide historical and critical observations of opera in New York. Krehbiel's writings often aimed to educate untaught lovers of music, as seen in his guide "How to Listen to Music." His scholarship and critiques have left a lasting impact on the field of music literature, making him a notable figure in the study of opera.