Brahms's Elegies: The Poetics of Loss in Nineteenth-Century German Culture

Nicole Grimes explores the expressive potential of Brahms' elegiac works, drawing on historical musicology, German studies, and cultural history to reveal the philosophical weight of this music. She considers the German tradition of the poetics of loss and the aesthetics of Adorno, illuminating Brahms' understanding of lateness and his place in modernist culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 293 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Nicole Grimes offers a captivating and innovative approach to a collection of Brahms' elegiac compositions by seamlessly blending the fields of historical musicology, German studies, and cultural history. Through her meticulous exploration of Schicksalslied, Nänie, Gesang der Parzen, and the Vier ernste Gesänge, she unveils the profound philosophical depth of this music. Grimes delves into the German tradition of the poetics of loss, which traces its roots back to the late-eighteenth-century writings of Hölderlin, Schiller, and Goethe, and extends to include other philosophical and poetic works found in Brahms' extensive library. She also examines the aesthetics of Adorno, who, like Brahms, was deeply influenced by their shared literary heritage. Grimes' multifaceted examination of endings, encompassing the end of tonality, the end of the nineteenth century, and the themes of loss in the music, sheds light on our understanding of Brahms and his place in the context of modernist culture. By seamlessly integrating these diverse disciplines, Grimes provides a fresh and insightful perspective on Brahms' timeless compositions, enriching our appreciation of his artistic legacy.

Weight: 514g
Dimension: 169 x 244 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108464765