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Le discours musical : Pour une nouvelle conception de la musique

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Ce sont trente années d'expérience et de réflexion que nous livre ici Nikolaus Harnoncourt, dans ce qu'on peut considérer comme une véritable "philosophie de la musique ancienne". Paradoxalement la conception historique qu'Harnoncourt développe ici est à la base de l'interprétation la plus moderne qui soit, et en fait l'un des grands novateurs de ce siècle. La musique des siècles passés - et en particulier la musique baroque, où la dimension rhétorique est considérable - est pour lui une langue que le musicien du XXe siècle - aussi bien l'exécutant que l'auditeur - se doit de rapprendre s'il veut comprendre et faire comprendre le discours musical. Au-delà des querelles esthétiques, c'est dans cette optique d'une meilleure intelligence de la musique que s'inscrit la recherche historique d'Harnoncourt sur les instruments anciens, les problèmes de notation, de tempo, d'articulation, d'ornementation, mais aussi sur la fonction sociale de la musique et des musiciens. L'authenticité, dont on l'a trop souvent cru l'apôtre, n'est en tout cas qu'un moyen pour redonner tout son sens à notre pratique musicale, pour nous permettre de n'être plus de simples consommateurs.

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

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Nikolaus Harnoncourt

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Lobstergirl.
1,926 reviews1,439 followers
June 27, 2019

A thoughtful and serious man, whose humor comes through in rehearsals sometimes (see Youtube) and in his bulging eyes (see the Neujahrskonzert 2003). Despite the title, Harnoncourt covers slightly more than Baroque music, e.g., Mozart. He probably does the best Schubert 4th (Tragic) I've heard, although I haven't heard every recording ever made.

[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eReKP... ]
Profile Image for Josep.
31 reviews1 follower
June 7, 2021
Tan increíble como necesario.
13 reviews
January 25, 2021
A book of collected speeches and lectures by Harnoncourt. He speaks about how music is understood today, how music where understood during Baroque times and the differences and contrasts between the two. He speaks about why he thinks we should change our approach to early music, in order to better understand and appreciate it and its purpose, among other subjects. Being based on vast amounts of experience and research, it has, at least for me, some mindblowing passages. On the downside, that the book contains such a vast variety of subjects makes it fragmented in its layout.
Profile Image for Austin Hood.
142 reviews1 follower
December 19, 2017
A great guide to performance practice, if a little unfocused. I’ll be sure to draw on this as a resource!
Profile Image for Randy Rosso.
23 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2012


These are the ideas that revolutionized how music from Bach and before is performed today. Also Harnoncourt's recordings, as cellist and as conductor, are genius at work.
Profile Image for martin.
14 reviews
January 15, 2025
Es una maravilla leer y sentir la pasión que tenía Harnoncourt por la música. Realmente contagioso y apasionante a partes iguales.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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