Dialectical Relation Between Music as the Thing Itself
and Musical Conventions in Philosophy of New Music by Theodor Adorno Cover Image

Dijalektički odnos između glazbe kao same stvari i glazbenih konvencija u Filozofiji nove glazbe Theodora Adorna
Dialectical Relation Between Music as the Thing Itself and Musical Conventions in Philosophy of New Music by Theodor Adorno

Author(s): Dušan Milenković
Subject(s): Music, Aesthetics
Published by: Hrvatsko Filozofsko Društvo
Keywords: music as the thing itself; musical conventions; negative dialectics; Arnold Schönberg; Igor Stravinsky;

Summary/Abstract: In this paper, the basic themes of Adorno’s Philosophy of New Music are viewed from the perspective of the concepts of music as the thing itself and musical conventions, which can be considered as dialectical poles of music. The analysis of these concepts is performed along with the examination of Adorno’s negative dialectics method and its application in this book. The concept of music as the thing itself refers to historical tendencies of the musical form, i. e. tendencies a composer uses to extend the capabilities of music set by his predecessors. On the other hand, musical conventions are viewed as the dominant form of composing in an epoch. In this case, composers do not develop musical forms but remain in the domain of those previously known. According to Adorno, Schönberg’s dodecaphony is the concept closest to the music as the thing itself, while music of Stravinsky still remains within the limits of conventional music.

  • Issue Year: 36/2016
  • Issue No: 02/142
  • Page Range: 255-271
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: Croatian