Musical ekphrasis: some thoughts on liszt’s sposalizio and raphael’s the marriage of the virgin
Musical ekphrasis: some thoughts on liszt’s sposalizio and raphael’s the marriage of the virgin

Author(s): Rossella Marisi
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Music
Published by: Biblioteca Ştiinţifică a Universităţii de Stat Alecu Russo
Keywords: musical ekphrasis; interpretation; hetero-referentiality; evocation; Peirce’s Semiotic Theory
Summary/Abstract: Music and painting share similar perceptual foundations: in painting, we find elements such as line, light/shadow, composition, tonal value, and texture; in music, these are mirrored by melody, dynamics, form, pitch, and texture. The concept of musical ekphrasis refers to compositions that draw inspiration from visual artworks, interpreting their content through sound: the two distinct semiotic systems operate in comparable ways evoking similar emotions in the audience. The study focuses on Liszt's Sposalizio, inspired by Raphael's The Marriage of the Virgin, demonstrating how parallels in style and compositional approach across different media create corresponding atmospheres.

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