Haydn included some of these elements in his music. He is credited with creating the string quartet, which is meant to be musically equal. Each instrument (two violins, a viola, and a cello) has its own "big moment" and the music flows like conversation; there is never a fight between two parts for the spotlight. Mozart's opera, The Magic Flute, is known as the Masonic opera. Many of the Freemason elements are themes in the opera: love, enlightenment, truth, and wisdom.
The number 3 also appears a lot in music inspired by the Masons. For example, Haydn's Opus 33, number 3 ("the bird movement") lasts 3 minutes and 33 seconds. In The Magic Flute, the opera opens with 3 chords in E flat major (which has 3 flats). There are 3 ladies, 3 boys, and 3 tests.
**NOT A RESPONSE! this is an original post**
ReplyDeleteAwhile back while reading our textbook I came across an interesting passage that I wished had been at least mentioned in class (although I realize it would have been off topic). The Enlightenment was a time of transitions, from the medieval to more modern ideals about the world. It was considered to be a time of change, namely from more religious based ideals to more humane, logic based ideals. There were countless positive changes that came with the Enlightenment; however, one important aspect of European society that did not change was the slave trade. According to our textbook, “the most glaring evidence of the failure of the Enlightenment to achieve immediate social reforms was the perpetuation of the slave trade” which was apparently thriving during the time. Why is this topic not a more significant part of the Enlightenment discussion? Is it just me or does it seems that slave trade has been overlooked, not just during the Enlightenment, but also today, in the teachings of this period of time? Why is slave trade not included in the overall history, but is mention as a separate unit of study, not just in this course but in many history courses? Why can’t it be incorporated in with all the other aspects of history, and specifically in this course, in the Enlightenment history?