GESAMTKUNSTWERK ARIZONA A CREATIVE SYNTHESIS OF POETRY AND MUSIC

• Main Author: MILLER, ALEXANDER ALBERT
• Other Authors: Chisholm, David
• Language: en_US
• Published: The University of Arizona. 2016
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/613290; http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/613290

Throughout the history of German culture, the synthesis of text and music has been central to the cultural and social identity of its respective eras. The union of poetry and text that immediately comes to mind is the Deutsche Lieder, the term used to describe the practice of setting classic German poetry to music during the early 19th century. The poetry of the Weimarer Klassik, principally the works of Goethe and Schiller, was honored by composers of the next generation through their Lieder, seeking to manifest these renowned works in the form of music. However, the synthesis of text and music in German culture had long since been a testament to underlying social temperament, from the introspective chants of Hildegard von Bingen conveying the spiritual mysticism of the 12th century, to the cynical and ironic Episches Theater, or Epic Theater, of Bertolt Brecht in the 20th century. The idea of this project is to similarly find a synthesis of music and text, such that a perspective on the contemporary German identity is manifested and communicated with an audience, simultaneously commenting on and participating in German culture. This project culminates with a live musical performance and poetry reading, both of which are original creations by the artist, in hopes of sharing an appreciation for German culture with the University of Arizona community. The performance can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZEehSGWO6N81Lc0gqg8tIg