Spiritual Dimensions in the Music of Edmund Rubbra

Edmund Rubbra's music is explored in this book through the lens of his spiritual dimensions, positioning them biographically and in the context of contemporaneous English culture. It offers a multi-faceted view of his life and music, engaging with current scholarly research in the arts and humanities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Edmund Rubbra's music has earned him a reputation as a "spiritual composer," with a deep interest in Eastern thought and a mid-life conversion to Roman Catholicism. This comprehensive book explores the various "spiritual dimensions" that played a significant role in his life, both biographically and within the context of contemporaneous English culture. It delves into the intricate ways these spiritual aspects are reflected in his specific compositions, offering a detailed analysis of their influence.

The book employs a mathematical approach to address these spiritual themes, encompassing a wide range of subjects such as Theosophy, dance, Eastern religions and thought, nature, the evolutionary theory of Teilhard de Chardin, and the Christ figure. This multifaceted treatment provides a rich understanding of Rubbra's life and music. Its contribution to a scholarly re-evaluation of his place within twentieth-century British music and culture aligns with various areas of current scholarly research in the arts and humanities. These include academic interests in Theosophy, modernism and the arts, experimental dance, the Indian cultural renaissance, and East-West musical interactions of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Furthermore, the book adds to a growing body of writings on music and spirituality, fueled by the popularity of later twentieth-century and contemporary composers who make more overt spiritual references in their music.

In conclusion, Edmund Rubbra's music and this book serve as a testament to his profound spiritual journey and his artistic expression. Through meticulous analysis and a multi-faceted approach, they shed light on the spiritual dimensions that shaped his life and work, contributing to a deeper understanding of his place within British music and culture.

Weight: 562g
Dimension: 162 x 241 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367635374